Kegel exercises for hemorrhoids: exercises for men and women

In the clinical course of hemorrhoids, important importance is attached to the impaired regulation of tone not only of the veins of the lower rectum, but also to damage to the anal sphincter. The pelvic floor muscles lose tone due to constipation caused by poor diet, injuries, difficult childbirth in women, insufficient physical activity, and excess weight. Kegel exercises for hemorrhoids are included in the system of therapeutic exercises. In therapy, they receive no less attention than medications.

The Kegel complex helps strengthen the muscular structure of the pelvis, abdominal wall, and intestines. Exercises restore blood circulation in hemorrhoidal vessels and tone the ligamentous apparatus that fixes the internal nodes, preventing prolapse.

What is Kegel exercises?

Kegel exercises are an original technique developed back in 1948 by gynecologist Arnold Kegel , aimed at strengthening intimate muscles. Initially, the only purpose of the exercises was to increase vaginal tone in women with problems in their sexual life, as well as restore partnerships with a man after childbirth.

Today, Kegel exercises are used to treat and prevent hemorrhoids in men and women.

Through exercise you can achieve:

improving blood circulation in the genitals;
increasing the tone of the muscles of the lower abdomen and intestines;
normalization of blood flow in the area of hemorrhoids;
improving intestinal motility and preventing constipation.

Kegel exercises are widely prescribed in urology and sexopathology for the treatment of various sexual disorders in men and women of reproductive age. All elements of gymnastics provide alternating tension in the pelvic floor muscles, which increases muscle tone and normalizes the elasticity of muscle fibers.

Duration of treatment

Kegel exercises for hemorrhoids should be done daily both to relieve acute pain and to prevent the disease. You can start charging with several repetitions of each position. Gradually increasing the duration of classes, it is necessary to bring the number of repetitions of each exercise to a personal physical maximum (for example, 20) and, having fixed the result at this figure, try not to reduce it.

On average, training takes 15 minutes a day. With proper muscle tension, therapeutic exercises give a good therapeutic effect, relieve pain, and improve the quality of life of a person suffering from hemorrhoids.

Beneficial features

With regular exercise (it is recommended to spend 25-30 minutes exercising daily), you can not only improve blood circulation and reduce hemorrhoids, but also achieve other results :

improvement of intimate life (increased sensitivity of the internal genital organs in women);
restoration of potency, increased erection in men;
reduction of prostate tumors, improvement in prostatitis of any nature;
prevention of exacerbations of hemorrhoids (especially loss of hemorrhoidal cones);
ensuring the correct topography of the pelvic organs and preventing ptosis - prolapse.

An important condition for achieving a positive therapeutic result is the regularity and consistency of the sessions. The main advantage is the ability to perform gymnastics at any convenient time.

Contraindications

It is possible to identify relative and absolute factors in the presence of which gymnastics is contraindicated.

Kegel exercises for hemorrhoids are an effective set of exercises that strengthens the muscular system and vein walls, and also improves blood flow in the pelvis

Relative:

Inability to breathe correctly.
Lack of preparation.

All training should begin with breathing exercises. If this rule is not followed, then improper breathing will lead to increased pressure in the abdomen and the effect of exercise will be the opposite.

You should also refrain from such exercises after abdominal surgery. After this, at least six months must pass. Such exercises should not be performed in the sun, as the heat can lead to unwanted stress on the blood vessels.

Absolute:

Inflammation of the pelvic organs.
Infectious diseases.
Rehabilitation after surgery.
Varicose veins
Tumors in the pelvis.

The results of regular training will be noticeable 5-7 days after the start. If you do them constantly and regularly, you can not only get rid of health problems, but also prevent their occurrence in the future.

How to do Kegel exercises for hemorrhoids

Before performing Kegel exercises for hemorrhoids, you should understand which muscle groups should be used for training. Men and women have their own recommendations for determining basic muscle structures.

Recommendations for women

The muscles of the pelvic day and small pelvis in women have a more complex anatomical structure . To understand and determine their functionality in women, it is recommended to sit on the toilet and spread your legs wide. During urination, it is recommended to stop mictioning and pause for several seconds. A woman can feel which muscles are involved in stopping the process of urination.

Another method for identifying the desired muscle structures is digital . Having previously washed your hands and external genitalia, you should lie on your back and insert 1-2 fingers into the vagina. At this moment, you should squeeze the vaginal muscles so that you can feel the area of maximum tension with your fingers.

Note! Women can perform exercises standing, on the floor, or sitting at the workplace. To perform the exercises, you do not need to hire a trainer or visit a gym.

Recommendations for men

Kegel exercises for men with hemorrhoids have a complex effect on the body . To determine the muscles of the pelvic floor and internal genital organs, men should also be forced to stop urinating.

The main difference in urination in men is that when it is forced to stop, not only the muscles of the perineum, but also the anus - the anal sphincter - tense. By strengthening the groin muscles, it is possible to improve and restore blood circulation, normalize the tone of muscle ligaments, and eliminate congestion during prolonged circulatory disorders due to physical inactivity and other factors.

Important! Exercises will be beneficial in the treatment of prostatitis and prostate adenoma. Normal blood circulation increases male potential, improves erection and quality of sexual life.

Kegel technique: contraindications, features of training

But for all their benefits, exercises according to the recommendations of Arnold Kegel have their contraindications.

The list of restrictions on performing gymnastics includes:

inflammatory processes of any etiology in the pelvic area in the acute phase;
bleeding as a result of surgery or diagnostic procedures;
tendency to bleeding or, conversely, the formation of blood clots;
the presence of benign or malignant neoplasms in the pelvic area.

It is important
Before performing Kegel exercises in the early postoperative period, you should consult your doctor. On the one hand, training stimulates regeneration processes, on the other hand, it can provoke bleeding.

After regularly performing exercises for several months, it becomes more and more difficult to feel the real tension of the pubococcygeus muscle. To make the Kegel training method more effective, you can change the position in which the movements are performed.

They need to be changed as you adapt to gymnastics in this order:

standing straight, feet shoulder-width apart, hands resting on the lower back;
lie on your back, bend your legs and slightly spread them (you can also raise your pelvis);
lie on your stomach, bend one leg at the knee;
get down on all fours, knees slightly apart, rest on your elbows, rest your head on your palms;
sit on the floor, cross your legs bent at the knees (following the example of the “lotus” position), back straight;
spread your straight legs wider than your shoulders, rest your hands just above your knees, bend slightly forward with a straight back;
squat slightly with your legs apart (bend your knees at an angle of 90º), take a dumbbell in your straight arms and lean forward a little, arching your back at the lower back.

You can train at any time, however, in order to avoid problems with the urinary system and digestion, you should start gymnastics only after emptying your bladder and intestines. If you are prone to constipation, you can first do a cleansing enema, but by and large this advice is not mandatory, but rather advisory.

It is important
If a man suffers from urinary incontinence, at the initial stages of performing gymnastics, the exercises must be done while sitting on the toilet (to avoid unpleasant “embarrassment”).

But in some cases, certain complications arise with the exercises. They may be related to:

undiagnosed diseases of the pelvic organs;
improper performance of gymnastics;
lack of regularity, insufficient number of repetitions.

In such cases, you need to contact a specialist. Such exercises are a generally accepted recommendation among urologists. Therefore, the doctor will explain in detail the technique of performing gymnastics. The doctor will also help to exclude pathologies of the genitourinary system. For this purpose, the necessary tests and studies are prescribed (TRUS, bacterial culture of prostate secretions, clinical blood and urine tests, ultrasound of the pelvic organs).

If you follow the rules of implementation, the Kegel technique will bring positive results in any case. However, the time for the onset of the effect is individual for each man. As a rule, improvement is noted after 6 to 8 weeks. However, if the pubococcygeus muscle has been too weakened, the result may appear after 5 to 6 months of regular exercise.

Preparing for gymnastics

No specific or special preparation is required to perform Kegel exercises . After the first 10-15 sessions of gymnastics, the elements can be performed easily, even while showering, eating, walking, or working. Beginners are advised to pay more attention to preparation: study the elements of gymnastics, choose light clothing that does not restrict movement, and determine a room convenient for training. If the exercises are performed for the first time, it is important to correctly feel and identify the muscles that require strengthening.

List and order of exercises for hemorrhoids

Kegel exercises for men and women can be performed in any order, alternating them at your personal discretion. Each element of gymnastics should be given at least 2-3 minutes.

The usual complex can be used as a preparation for the main classes, and also become the completion of the main gymnastics:

active compression and relaxation of the anal muscles without involving the legs, abs, and abdomen (15-20 approaches);
tension and relaxation in different rhythms (increasingly) of the pelvic muscles;
after an active contraction, the cycle should be completed with an action as if pushing out a foreign body from the inside (using only the muscles of the lower abdomen).

If everything is done correctly, after the first workout you can feel tension and slight soreness in the muscles of the lower abdomen and internal genital organs.

A daily exercise cycle may consist of the following elements:

tension - prolonged compression of active muscles with a pause in tension for 3-5 seconds;
pulsation - frequent compression and tension of the vaginal or perineal muscles with the involvement of the anal sphincter;
hold - strongly squeeze all muscles for 10-15 seconds, then slowly relax them (5-10 approaches should be done);
expulsion - take a deep breath, after which, as you exhale, they push something out with the pelvic muscles (similar to pushing during childbirth or defecation during constipation);
contraction and relaxation at intervals of 2 seconds, rhythmic gymnastics for 3-4 minutes;
the elevator is a complex exercise, working with imagination (you should lift something with your muscles to the “5th floor”, and then lower it and expel it out);
half-bridge - lying on your back and resting your shoulder blades, raise the pelvis, strain the muscles of the pelvis and buttocks for 3-4 minutes, after which they take the starting position;
samba - having assumed a vertical position, hands are placed on the hips and dance with smooth movements of the hips; as soon as the thigh reaches its highest point, the intimate muscles should be tensed;
butterfly - you need to sit on the floor in the lotus position, bringing your feet together, while inhaling, you need to tense the muscles of the vagina and perineum, and while exhaling, relax.

Additionally, you can resort to well-known exercises : scissors, birch, bicycle, boat, swallow. You can get real pleasure by combining Kegel exercises with yoga and quality sex with your partner.

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Gymnastics during pregnancy and after childbirth

Pregnancy in any trimester is supported by the production of progesterone , which, in turn, contributes to a natural decrease in intestinal tone. This is why women suffer from constipation in later stages. Kegel exercises improve blood flow, prevent exacerbation of hemorrhoids if there is a history of them, and prevent postpartum hemorrhoids.

After childbirth, gymnastics helps increase intestinal sensitivity and prevent constipation , improve sex life, quickly clear the birth canal of blood accumulation and prevent genitourinary infections. In addition, with regular exercise, you can get rid of such complications of the postpartum process as urinary incontinence.

Note! It is recommended to confirm the possibility of performing any gymnastics with an obstetrician-gynecologist. Gymnastics is contraindicated for women with heavy bleeding from the rectal canal, with risks of miscarriage, and for pregnant women with uterine hypertonicity.

Exercises for pregnant women

The time of the lesson and the type of training depend on the condition of the woman. The load must be determined individually. If the pregnancy proceeds without complications, then the exercises can be performed. When there are complications, the body needs to be given rest. Before starting training, it is important to consult a gynecologist.

Contraindications to Kegel exercises for hemorrhoids

Kegel exercises are prohibited for the following diseases and conditions in men and women:

exacerbation of prostatitis, growth of prostate adenoma, malignant tumor;
cystic lesions of the ovaries, uterine fibroids, ptosis of the pelvic organs;
acute sexually transmitted infections;
massive rectal bleeding.

Women are not recommended to exercise in the first week after childbirth , as well as during menstrual flow. Kegel exercises are contraindicated for men with inguinal-scrotal hernia at risk of exacerbation.

Disease prevention

For men at home, there is a primary and secondary type of hemorrhoid prevention. The first is aimed at preventing the occurrence of the disease. Secondary prevention includes measures to prevent hemorrhoids after healing.

The disease goes through several stages in its development. In the early stages, no special treatment is required and can be successfully treated with exercise.

Surprisingly, one of the preventive measures is proper nutrition. It is advisable to exclude minced meat, fatty, pickled and salty foods. If you use them, do so in moderation.

In addition, you should include plenty of fiber in your meals to prevent constipation. The disease can also cause disordered eating and bad habits. In addition, it is appropriate to combine work and leisure.

Not very useful physical activity would be cycling or weightlifting. They increase blood pressure. Such exercises can lead to painful exercises (if there is such a predisposition) or worsen their progress.

Other useful exercises for hemorrhoids

To prevent hemorrhoids, Kegel exercises can be combined with yoga, elements of stretching the muscular structures of the hip joint, abdominal pumping, and physical therapy (thermal procedures, mud wraps, exposure to UHF or UV rays).

Is it possible to use Kegel exercises to prevent hemorrhoids, effectiveness

Exercises are also effective for the prevention of hemorrhoids, especially with such a predisposition . Thanks to training, it is possible to prevent congestion in the veins of the rectal canal, normalize blood flow, and prevent the formation of new hemorrhoidal cones. At the same time, inflammation is reduced, swelling is stopped, and constipation is eliminated.

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Main causes of hemorrhoids

Such a delicate problem as hemorrhoids requires a piquant approach.
This will not only help you with treatment. Exercises for hemorrhoids are a specially designed gymnastics complex that successfully complements medications, and in some cases completely replaces them. The main reasons contributing to the occurrence of hemorrhoids are a sedentary lifestyle and chronic constipation.

When a person spends most of their days sitting, blood vessels appear in the pelvic vessels, including the colon. Venous insufficiency occurs, as a result of which the cavernous bodies, filled with blood, expand and become deformed. This is how hemorrhoids form.

In the presence of hemorrhoids, dystrophic changes in the longitudinal muscles of the rectal canal also play a significant role, retaining hemorrhoids in the intestine. As a result of these changes, the muscle fibers lose their elasticity and tone, which causes the cones to fall through the anal ring.

In addition, the tone of the pelvic floor disappears with prolonged sitting, which also negatively affects the condition of the rectum.

The second factor causing hemorrhoids is the occurrence of constipation, which leads to increased blood pressure in the hemorrhoidal veins and, consequently, to disruption of blood flow from the tissues of the anorectal area. In addition, hard stool damages already established nodes and causes bleeding and inflammation.

As we have learned, constipation affects hemorrhoids, but what causes intestinal tract problems? The basis of constipation is weakening of peristalsis, decreased tone of the muscles of the rectum and pelvic floor, pathological processes that are the result of a sedentary lifestyle.