Andrew Siegel MD 7/28/2018
Following last week’s entry that reviewed the basic resistance devices, today’s entry reviews some of the more complex pelvic floor muscle (PFM) resistance devices. These are complex and often expensive devices that provide resistance, biofeedback and tracking, often via Bluetooth connectivity to a smartphone. Many provide specific PFM training programs to follow for optimal results. This entry reviews a the most popular devices.
Above image is of the Elvie, one of the more sophisticated pelvic training devices (Elvie.com)
Lovelife Krush: Made by sex technology company OhMiBod, this is a dumbbell-shaped device that you insert vaginally and connect via Bluetooth to a companion app TASL (The Art and Science of Love). Its voice-guided training program tracks PFM contraction pressure, endurance and number of reps and provides vibrational stimulation as you perform the exercises. Cost is $129 (Lovelifetoys.com/lovelife-krush).
kGoal: Its name is a play on the word “Kegel.” It is an interactive “smart” device that consists of an inflatable and squeezable plastic “pillow” that is attached to an external handle. It provides feedback, resistance and tracking. You insert the pillow in your vagina and inflate or deflate it with a button control to obtain a good fit. When you contract your PFM properly, the device vibrates to give you biofeedback. The kGoal app can be downloaded on your smartphone and connected to the device via Bluetooth. The interface provides a guided workout including pulses, 5-second holds and slow and deliberate holds. It provides visual and auditory feedback and tracks your progress. The device measures the strength of your vaginal contractions and at the end of a workout you receive a score of 1-10 to help monitor your progress. Cost is $149 (Minnalife.com).
Vibrance Kegel Device: This biofeedback tool can be set at different resistance levels and provides audio guidance and coaching. It consists of a pressure-sensitive element that you insert in your vagina. When you contract your PFM properly, it delivers mild vibrational pulsations. It has three different training sheaths of increasing stiffness that provide graduated levels of resistance for different training intensities. Cost is $165 (VibrancePelvicTrainer.com).
Elvie: Manufactured in the UK, Elvie is a wearable, egg-shaped, waterproof, flexible device that you insert in your vagina. Your PFM contraction strength is measured and sent via Bluetooth to a companion mobile app that provides biofeedback to track progress. Five-minute workouts are designed to lift and tone the PFM. The app includes a game designed to keep users engaged by bouncing a ball above a line by clenching their PFM. The carrying case also serves as a charging device. Cost is $199 (Elvie.com).
PeriCoach: Manufactured in Australia, PeriCoach is a vaginal device that measures PFM contraction strength, which is relayed to your smartphone via Bluetooth to a companion mobile app. It provides a guided exercise program, data monitoring and audio-visual biofeedback. It is available only by prescription. Cost is $299 (PeriCoach.com).
InTone: This device must be prescribed by a physician and is specifically for stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder. It combines voice-guided PFM exercises with visual biofeedback and electro-stimulation. It consists of an inflatable vaginal probe that provides resistance and measures PFM contractile strength. The probe is attached to a handle and a separate control unit furnishes the guided program and biofeedback. An illuminated bar graph displays the strength of your PFM contractions and objective data to track your progress. Exercise sessions are 12 minutes in length. Cost is $795 (Incontrolmedical.com).
As reported in the International Journal of Urogynecology, a 3-month clinical trial of the InTone device resulted in significant subjective and objective improvements in patients with stress incontinence and overactive bladder.
Do you really need to use a resistance device?
You can strengthen your PFM and improve/prevent pelvic floor dysfunction without using resistance, so it is not imperative to use a device that is placed in the vagina in order to derive benefits from PFMT. Some women are unwilling or cannot place a device in the vagina. However, using resistance is the most efficient means of accelerating the muscle adaptive process as recognized and espoused by Dr. Kegel, since muscle strengthening occurs in direct proportion to the demands placed upon the muscle. There is a real advantage to be derived from squeezing against a compressible device as opposed to against air. Furthermore, the biofeedback that many of the resistance devices provide is invaluable in ensuring that you are contracting your PFM properly and in tracking your progress.
Which resistance device will work best for you?
There are many resistance devices available in a rapidly changing, competitive and evolving market. Most of the sophisticated training devices provide the same basic functionality—insertion into the vagina, connection to a smartphone app, and biofeedback and tracking—although each device has its own special features. The goal is to find a device that is comfortable and easy to use. Some devices are more medically-oriented whereas others are more sex toy-oriented. Each has unique bells and whistles, some offering programs with guidance and coaching and a few incorporating games to make the PFMT process entertaining. I urge you to visit the website of any device that you might be interested in to obtain more information. Read their reviews in order to make an informed choice as to which product is most appropriate for you.
Wishing you the best of health,
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Dr. Andrew Siegel is a physician and urological surgeon who is board-certified in urology as well as in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School and is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor New York Metro Area, Inside Jersey Top Doctor and Inside Jersey Top Doctor for Women’s Health. His mission is to “bridge the gap” between the public and the medical community.
Dr. Siegel has authored the following books that are available on Amazon, iBooks, Nook and Kobo:
MALE PELVIC FITNESS: Optimizing Sexual & Urinary Health
THE KEGEL FIX: Recharging Female Pelvic, Sexual and Urinary Health
PROMISCUOUS EATING: Understanding and Ending Our Self-Destructive Relationship with Food
These books are written for educated and discerning men and women who care about health, well-being, fitness and nutrition and enjoy feeling confident and strong.
Dr. Siegel is co-creator of the male pelvic floor exercise instructional DVD (female version is in the works): PelvicRx
New video on female pelvic floor exercises: Learn about your pelvic floor
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