Pubococcygeus Muscle (Love Muscle, PC-Muscle)

Pubococcygeus muscle

 (PC-Muscle, Love Muscle)

Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 12 May 2010 12:44

The pubococcygeus muscle or PC muscle is a hammock-like muscle, found in both sexes, that stretches from the pubic bone to the coccyx (tail bone) forming the floor of the pelvic cavity and supporting the pelvic organs. It is part of the levator ani group of muscles.

Function

It controls urine flow and contracts during orgasm. It aids in urinary control and childbirth.

A strong PC muscle has also been linked to a reduction in urinary incontinence and proper positioning of the baby's head during childbirth.

Kegel exercises

Kegel exercises are a set of exercises designed to strengthen and give voluntary control over the pubococcygeus muscles. They are often referred to simply as "kegels", named after their inventor Dr. Arnold Kegel.[1] These exercises also serve to contract the cremaster muscle in men, as voluntary contraction of the pubococcygeus muscle also engages the cremasteric reflex, which lifts the testicles up, although this does not occur in all men. Kegel exercise have been prescribed to help men control premature ejaculation[2] and to treat urinary incontinence in both sexes.[3][4]

Anatomy

The pubococcygeus arises from the back of the pubis and from the anterior part of the obturator fascia, and is directed backward almost horizontally along the side of the anal canal toward the coccyx and sacrum, to which it finds attachment.
Between the termination of the vertebral column and the anus, the two pubococcygei muscles come together and form a thick, fibromuscular layer lying on the raphé (anococcygeal raphé) formed by the iliococcygei.
The greater part of this muscle is inserted into the coccyx and into the last one or two pieces of the sacrum.
This insertion into the vertebral column is, however, not admitted by all observers.

References
1. ^ Kegel exercises Gannet Health Services. Cornwell University website
2. ^ How To do Kegel Exercises (for men) Silverberg, Corey. About.com
3. ^ Hay-Smith EJ, Dumoulin C (2006). "Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (1): CD005654. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005654. PMID 16437536.
4. ^ Hunter KF, Glazener CM, Moore KN (2007). "Conservative management for postprostatectomy urinary incontinence". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (2): CD001843. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001843.pub3. PMID 17443512.

Kegel exercise

A Kegel exercise, named after Dr. Arnold Kegel, consists of contracting and relaxing the muscles that form part of the pelvic floor (which some people now colloquially call the "Kegel muscles").

Explanation

The aim of Kegel exercises is to improve muscle tone by strengthening the pubococcygeus muscles of the pelvic floor. Kegel is a popular prescribed exercise for pregnant women to prepare the pelvic floor for physiological stresses of the later stages of pregnancy and vaginal childbirth. Kegel exercises are said to be good for treating vaginal prolapse[1] and preventing uterine prolapse[2] in women and for treating prostate pain and swelling resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis in men. Kegel exercises may be beneficial in treating urinary incontinence in both men and women.[3] Kegel exercises may also increase sexual gratification.

A Kegel exerciser

A Kegel exerciser is a medical device designed to be used by women to exercise the pubococcygeus muscle (also called the PC muscle). There are three main types: barbells, springs, and rubber bulbs. The barbells (or vaginal barbell) can be used as a vaginal exerciser or as a vaginal dildo or sex toy. Made of smooth, polished solid stainless steel, it is cylindrical in shape, with a rounded bulge at each end. They typically weigh one pound (454g) and measure approximately 6¾ inches (17.1 cm) in length with a diameter of one inch (2.5 cm) at the widest part. Being made of stainless steel, vaginal barbells are nonporous and can be wiped clean with a cloth moistened with mild soap and water. Spring devices are made of plastic, with removable springs to allow progressive resistance. These allow pressing directly against resistance. An advantage of rubber bulb devices is that they provide visual feedback (via a gauge) of how much pressure you are applying.

Benefits for women

Factors such as pregnancy, childbirth, aging, being overweight, and abdominal surgery such as cesarean section, often result in the weakening of the pelvic muscles. This can be assessed by either digital examination of vaginal pressure or using a Kegel perineometer. Kegel exercises are useful in regaining pelvic floor muscle strength in such cases.

Urinary incontinence

The consequences of weakened pelvic floor muscles may include urinary or bowel incontinence, which may be helped by therapeutic strengthening of these muscles. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that "PFMT [Pelvic floor muscle training] be included in first-line conservative management programs for women with stress, urge, or mixed, urinary incontinence...The treatment effect might be greater in middle aged women (in their 40's and 50's) with stress urinary incontinence alone...".[4]

Pelvic prolapse

The exercises are also often used to help prevent prolapse of pelvic organs. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that "there is some encouragement from a feasibility study that pelvic floor muscle training, delivered by a physiotherapist to symptomatic women in an outpatient setting, may reduce severity of prolapse".[5]

Benefits for men

Though most commonly used by women, men can also use Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises are employed to strengthen the pubococcygeal muscle and other muscles of the pelvic diaphragm. Kegels can help men achieve stronger erections and gain greater control over ejaculation.[6] The objective of this may be similar to that of the exercise in women with weakened pelvic floor: to increase bladder and bowel control and sexual function.

Incontinence

Regarding postprostatectomy urinary incontinence, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by the Cochrane Collaboration found that "there may be some benefit of offering pelvic floor muscle training with biofeedback early in the postoperative period immediately following removal of the catheter as it may promote an earlier return to continence".[7]

Sexual function

Kegel workouts can provide men with stronger erections.[6] Research published in 2005 issue of BJU International, have shown that pelvic floor exercises could help restore erectile function in men with erectile disfunction.[8] There are said to be significant benefits for the problem of premature ejaculation from having more muscular control of the pelvis.[9] It is also possible that strengthening the pelvic floor may allow some men to achieve a form of orgasm without allowing ejaculation, and thereby perhaps reach multiple "climaxes" during sexual activity. [10] In men, this exercise lifts up the testicles, also strengthening the cremaster muscle, as well as the anal sphincter, as the anus is the main area contracted when a Kegel is done. This is because the pubococcygeus muscle begins around the anus and runs up to the urinary sphincter

FEMALE PC MUSCLE: HOW TO STRENGHTEN

How can strengthening the female PC Muscle be important?

For women who have difficulty achieving orgasm, there may be a solution; a series of simple exercises. For men, these exercises seem to make erections easier and increase control of orgasm.

The lack of orgasm in women during intercourse is very common, from 33% to 80% of all women. Doctors have confirmed that the ability to have orgasm correlates with the contraction strength of the pubbococcygeus, or PC muscle. Women who don't experience orgasms, tend to have weak PC muscles.

Although the PC muscle is interwoven with and surrounded by four other sets of pelvic muscles, it is the master muscle of the pelvis muscles. When healthy and fit, it holds a taut straight line. When its weak, the PC and the pelvic organs it supports tend to sag, which can lead to urinary incontinence and other sexual problems.

How can my partner strengthen her PC muscle?

PC exercises are simple! They're deceptive, both because these minor movements can have such major health benefits and because it's easy to work the wrong muscle. The PC muscle is like any other muscle, with too strenuous exercises it can become sore.

The PC muscle should be about 3/4 inches wide when fully developed. It's located about 2 inches within the vagina and runs circularly. This muscle contains most of the nerve endings found in the vagina and is the source of the sexual vagina feeling.

First you need to find the muscle. Sit on the toilet, spread your legs as far as possible, and start and stop the flow of urine. For both women and men, the PC muscle is the only one that can accomplish this. Start and stop the flow three times to set the PC action in your mind. Then empty the bladder completely. To make sure of working the right muscle while exercising, women can insert a finger into the vagina and feel the contractions.

Exercise 1 (Squeeze): Squeeze and hold the PC muscle for about three seconds .. relax .. and repeat the process. This exercise may be repeated as often during the day as desired. Short sets of 25 are recommended. If you become sore, it's important to stop exercising your PC muscle for a few days.

Exercise 2 (Tighten): Contract and release the PC muscle about ten contractions at a time, depending on the condition of the muscle. The contractions during orgasms are more rapid.

Exercise 3 (Holds): Maximally contract the PC and hold for 10 seconds. At the very end of the contraction, squeeze once rapidly, harder and deeper, then release for 10 seconds.

All the exercises can be continued indefinitely. Increased muscle tone results in greater sensation during intercourse for both partners. Some men report that performing several voluntary contractions as they feel themselves getting closer to ejaculation enables them to last longer. Both men and women benefit greatly from a strong PC muscle

References
1. ^ eMedicineHealth: Vaginal Prolapse
2. ^ MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Uterine prolapse
3. ^ MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Kegel exercises
4. ^ Hay-Smith EJ, Dumoulin C (2006). "Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (1): CD005654. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005654. PMID 16437536.
5. ^ Hagen S, Stark D, Maher C, Adams E (2006). "Conservative management of pelvic organ prolapse in women". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (4): CD003882. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003882.pub3. PMID 17054190.
6. ^ a b Alan P. Brauer; Donna J. Brauer (2001). ESO: How You and Your Lover Can Give Each Other Hours of Extended Sexual Orgasm (Revised ed.). Warner Books. p. 59. ISBN 0446677620. http://books.google.ca/books?id=5qW9G9pOhZAC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA59#v=onepage&q=&f=false. Retrieved 2009-09-11. "Learning to tighten, to relax, and to push out the PC muscle allows a man to control his sexual system the way he controls a car. Tightening is the accelerator, increasing arousal. Pushing out is the brake-it can help stop ejaculation."
7. ^ Hunter KF, Glazener CM, Moore KN (2007). "Conservative management for postprostatectomy urinary incontinence". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (2): CD001843. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001843.pub3. PMID 17443512.
8. ^ Dorey G, Speakman MJ, Feneley RC, Swinkels A, Dunn CD (2005). "Pelvic floor exercises for erectile dysfunction". BJU International 96 (4): 595-597. PMID 16104916.
9. ^ Management of premature Ejaculation, Baum and Spiedler, Medical concepts of human sexuality 2001
10. ^ http://www.whitelotuseast.com/MultipleOrgasm.htm

Last Updated on Wednesday, 12 May 2010 22:18