5 GADGETS TO STOP LITTLE LEAKS
WE MAY crunch our abs and pump up our biceps, but few of us remember to exercise our pelvic floor — the sling-like muscles that support the bladder and internal organs. A weak pelvic floor can be a key factor in incontinence problems and impotence.
Both women and men should do pelvic floor exercises, but they can be tricky to master. Here Amanda Savage, a spokesman for the Professional Network of Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy, suggests five of the best gadgets to help. educator — pelvic floor exercise indicator. £10.20, Boots THIS visual aid comes with a tampon-type base that is inserted into the vagina, connected to an indicator wand that moves if the exercises are being done right.
EXPERT COMMENT: This is really clever — it can be hard to know if you are doing the exercises right. You need to be flexible enough to bend and watch the wand. Kegel8 for men pelvic toner. £149.99, kegel8.co.uk A STIMULATOR that does the exercises for you. An insertable probe or pads on the skin fire electrical impulses to make the muscles contract.
EXPERT COMMENT: These type of machines are perfect if you’re not sure what to do, as this gives you the sense of how it should feel to do these exercises. Homecraft Aquaflex weighted Vaginal Cones. £23.50, Boots TWO different size vaginal cones with a set of weights. The weights are placed in the cone, which is then inserted. The pelvic floor contracts to keep the cone in place. EXPERT COMMENT: The muscles register there is something there and automatically tense to hold on. Easy to use and quite effective. elvie Pelvic Floor Trainer. £169, elvie.com A VAGINAL probe with a motion sensor that sends information wirelessly et to a mobile about how much force your muscles are exerting.
EXPERT COMMENT: Units like this are motivating and improve your technique. Other versions don’t connect wirelessly, so they’re not quite as convenient. squeezy nHs App. £2.99, squeezyapp.co.uk THIS smartphone app encourages you to do exercises in sync with the movement of a bubble on the screen.
EXPERT COMMENT: This is great as it sends a reminder text three times a day. It’s very easy to use — and the moving bubble just makes you want to clench.