By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas
We are back with an update on so many more cool products and tools to help you along your pelvic health journey. In case you missed it, part one of this series focused on some fun tools to help with improving pleasure and sexual health. Today we will present you with tools that can help you live your life with less discomfort, and improve your bowel and bladder habits.
Save this page so you can share it later- it’s the pelvic health information you need to know about! If you don’t see the pelvic health products you wanted to see, send us a note and we will check it out next round! From pelvic wands to premium products, we will cover it all!
Products for Urinary Dysfunction
Urinary incontinence (leaking pee when you have an urge, cough or sneeze), dysuria, or pain with urination, or even just difficulty going pee are very common symptoms that we treat here at PHRC. Going camping, hiking, or just don’t want to go in those nasty toilets? There are devices that can help that! Also, for more information on the importance of not hovering over the toilet please read our blog “Sit yo’ a$$ down! The importance of sitting on the toilet” .
GoGirl
While not a new product, as it was featured in our blog a few years back, this device is used for people with vulvas so that we may be able to avoid those dirty porta-potties or less than ideal public bathrooms and not have to strain our pelvic floors by trying to gracefully balance ourselves over the seat of a toilet and strain our pelvic floor. These devices are available through Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc.
Poise Impressa
Even after so many years, I still love these and recommend them often! These look similar to tampons but they are for a different purpose, bladder leakage, and can help with some prolapse symptoms. Whether you are postpartum, an athlete, or you’ve suddenly noticed your panties have become wet (and not in the good way). There are devices known as pessaries that you need to be fitted for by a medical doctor or qualified nurse that are reusable. Poise impressa offers an alternative to this and are available over the counter so women can buy them and see if they are right for them. They are inserted into the vagina similarly to a tampon and provide support to the tissues that support our pelvic organs. These tissues can become lax after pregnancy and as a result of age-related changes and the hormonal insufficiencies of menopause. If you are using a bladder support or a pessary, you should ALSO be in pelvic floor physical therapy. These devices should be used as an aide to rehab to optimize the function of their pelvic floor muscles, not the solution.
Regain Urinary Leakage Belt
We now have options for our patients with penises! Leaking is never ideal and utilizing these in our patients who have undergone prostatectomies have been a game changer! This simple device is comfortable, safe, and easy to use. Used externally, this device is discreet and compact, making it simple to conceal. It can be applied or removed in seconds, using gentle pressure under the urethra to prevent urine leakage. Offered in three sizes – small, regular (fits most men), and large – it caters to diverse needs.
Pelvic Floor Trainers/Biofeedback Devices
So, Kegels. Well, these devices are pretty handy when you ACTUALLY do need to do Kegels, because yes, your pelvic floor should move – contract, relax and bulge. Studies show that given verbal instruction alone women cannot properly do a kegel. We advise seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist to assess if you need to do kegels and how to do them properly.
Since we last introduced these tools, a few new players have come on the market, and we love them! Previously, the Elvie was exclusively for people with vaginas and then KGoal came along and now we have an external device that can be used for all genders to benefit from! These upgraded biofeedback devices will tell you if you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, eliminating the mystery of if you are doing the exercise correctly or not. You can link it to your smart phone and based on your strength, it will create a program for you to help strengthen. It is definitely one of the more “fun ways” to do these exercises. There’s even pinball!
Elvie Pelvic Floor Trainer
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KGoal Classic
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Boost: Sit-On-Top
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| Using biofeedback, the gold standard of Kegel training, Elvie Trainer helps you visualize your pelvic floor while guiding you through each exercise. Simply insert Elvie Trainer and connect to the app. As you squeeze your pelvic floor muscles, your contractions move the gem through a targeted workout. | kGoal Classic is the original smart Kegel exerciser for women. It’s an interactive training system (device + app) that measures pelvic floor muscle function from inside the vagina and offers a unique combination of guidance, tracking, biofeedback and personalized workouts. Whether you’re just discovering your pelvic floor or are a seasoned Kegel workout warrior, kGoal Classic will help you get the most out of your exercise. | Boost™ is a revolutionary, interactive training system for your pelvic floor muscles. It consists of a sit-on-top device that measures pelvic floor muscle activation (you can leave your clothes on) and a smartphone app. It is designed to help with both strengthening (Kegel) exercise and relaxation (Downtraining). Boost provides a unique combination of workout guidance, exercise tracking, biofeedback, and games to help you get more out of your pelvic floor exercise and build consistent routines. |
Products for Bowel Dysfunction
These remain to be some of the foundational tools we will likely never stop recommending!
Squatty Potty
It is old news that American toilet seats are not optimal heights to allow the needed pelvic floor relaxation for stool evacuation. The squatty potty is a stool that fits around your toilet. When you prop your feet up on it the squatty potty puts your pelvic floor in the optimal position to do your business and limits the unwanted pushing and straining that some experience. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ONE! They also come in travel folding ones as well as fancy bamboo too!
Natural Calm
To go with your squatty potty, if you’re one that tends to have a harder time going to the bathroom or harder stools, this is a great, natural remedy you can use at night. Magnesium is a micronutrient that honestly, many people are lacking in their diet. It is used to relax smooth muscles (like your anal sphincter), helps you sleep, and also helps regulate your bowels. The type of magnesium in this is magnesium citrate.
Finding you need to splint to help eliminate? There are now two products on the market to help you with this (and not strain your shoulder to reach).
Femmeze Vaginal Trainer
This product was designed for individuals that suffer from prolapse, specifically a rectocele (where the rectum protrudes into the back wall of the vagina), and causes difficulty with evacuating stool, requiring them to use their fingers to help evacuate stool. This device inserts in and puts pressure to help realign the anatomy to make pooping much easier!
Releve
This device is similar to the Femmeze; however, it has some key upgrades and differences. For those that need a little more help, the Releve offers an inflatable piece that you can pump up after insertion into the vagina if you need a little more (or less) pressure and doesn’t require you to manually press into the tissue to realign the anatomy. After successful evacuation you can deflate and pull it right out!
The products listed next can be used for general pelvic health throughout and/or after your treatment and are more focused on pain relief!
These tools are some of our favorites here at PHRC and they may become a life-long companion or may offer short-term relief to make your healing journey more comfortable.
Theraseat
This foam cushion is meant for those that suffer with pain while sitting down. They offer a variety of options for cut outs, as well as a DIY cutout for those that can’t quite find the exact right fit. They can be used in the car, at home, work, or restaurants and have a nice handle so it’s easy to carry around!
IntelliRoll
This is by far our favorite foam roller – yes, there is actually a difference! This roller meets all the requirements, the dense foam which is important, the grooves improve the comfort around the spine and contours the body. Interested in learning more about foam rolling? You can check out our previous blog here.
The Stick Roller –
A good follow-up to the product above. The stick roller is handheld and is a little better when needing to get to some awkward body parts, like your inner thigh at the very top of your leg! Sometimes we have to get in weird positions to get those spots on the foam roller so this makes it a little easier, it also allows you to control the pressure a bit more for those extra sensitive spots.
Check out our videos about using the Stick Roller below:
Cupping Sets
Last but not least, cupping sets. At home cupping is one way you can independently perform myofascial release and mimic to some degree what we are doing with you in the clinic! There are different sets available, we love both! Check out our video here to understand the differences between the various types.
If you have ever been a patient here at PHRC or visited our office, you may recognize these products because we really do use them all the time! If you have feedback about these products we’d also love to hear so feel free to comment below and share some of your favorites!
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Did you hear? We recently launched our new e-book titled “Vulvodynia, Vestibulodynia, and Vaginismus,” designed to empower and inform individuals on their journey towards healing and understanding.
Chances are you or someone you know is dealing with vulvar pain and urogenital concerns. This book serves as a comprehensive guide to navigating these issues. Urogenital pain is prevalent in people with vulvas, and there are solutions.
Despite extensive research and endorsement from top medical experts and leadership societies, not everyone is aware of the benefits of the strategic combo of medical management & pelvic floor PT. We’ve developed this e-book to provide reliable information, practical tips, and solutions for those struggling with urogenital pain.
By combining physical therapy and medical treatment, you can overcome these challenges and regain control over your pelvic health. Look no further for the your pelvic health information! We’re here to help with your pelvic pain.
Our goal is to lead you towards a reasonable path to feel yourself again. We are here to help people find their individual solutions and to provide hope that full recoveries are possible and this book will tell you how!
Snag a copy for $10USD via our website.
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Did you know we opened our 11th location in Columbus, OH? Now scheduling new patients- call (510) 922-9836 to book!
Are you unable to come see us in person in the Bay Area, Southern California or New England? We offer virtual physical therapy appointments too!
Virtual sessions are available with PHRC pelvic floor physical therapists via our video platform, Zoom, or via phone. For more information and to schedule, please visit our digital healthcare page.
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