Pre-surgical kegels: Six sets vs. three sets

I'm not a medical professional nor an expert on Kegels, but that's the program I followed. I had NS RARP at 70 about 21 months ago. I did 10 reps of 10 second holding slow Kegels, and then 10 reps of fast Kegels. I tried to do about 6 sets a day. It took me some effort to learn to do them and to build up to being able to hold them while breathing. At this point, the slow ones I do about 70% of max, while the fast ones are closer to max. I started doing them reclining, and as I got better I went to standing. I used Michelle Conway video's on youtube and found her instructions useful for me. I had the opportunity to do them for 3 weeks before surgery and picked them up again after surgery when the care team told me I could resume. I really don't know how much they helped, but I think they helped. I was never incontinent after surgery, other than minor releases as I figured out the new normal. I think the skill of the surgeon was the most important factor by far, but I do think the Kegels helped. Even though I was continent, when I asked the surgeon how long to keep doing them (at about a year after surgery), his response was keep doing them at some level to maintain my pelvic floor strength. So I continue to this day, 1 or 2 sets a day. Best wishes.
Here's one of Michelle Conways videos I liked: https://www.youtube.com/watch

I have two apparently-contradictory pieces of general advice based on my own physio rehab from hospital bed to wheelchair to walking:

1. Don't overtrain.
2. If one movement is harder than the others, you've successfully identified the muscles that need the most work.

Consider lots of short sets on the front kegels, with long recovery breaks. Don't overtire them, but maybe do 5 extra stealthy front kegels + 10 sec holds once in a while when you're sitting at your desk, watching TV, etc., until the motion (including holding) becomes easy.

Best of luck!

I think in the end just make sure you do them prior. Doc's will be in there rooting around damaging and removing tissue so there could be some trauma which tends to shut muscles down as "they" protect themselves. Once you are healed enough to start back you can do them anywhere, even while standing in line at the grocery store.

@retireditguy Thanks so much for all that info! Incredibly helpful.

I'm glad to know that your slow kegels are at 70 percent of max.....I'd say I can only do quick holds right now and the long holds are a big challenge right now.

I'll try that tip on starting out doing them reclining.

Amazing that you had such great continence results. I agree, a big part has to be the skill of the surgeon and how much surrounding tissue they could save in your case. But, I bet those kegels helped.

After continence, keep doing them-that seems like solid advice....where I think most folks would just move on. I've got the Easy Kegel app, so if the day comes that I'm on the other side after surgery, I'll keep that app reminder going.

Video link didn't work, but I found her page.

Thanks so much and congrats on your outcome!!

@northoftheborder

That's amazing advice...had not thought of doing more short sets with longer recovery breaks.

Yeah, I could see overdoing the long ones too early.

Thanks so much!!

@chippydoo Thanks for that reality check. I was told that it's much easier to learn how to do them properly before surgery because after, the sensation and muscles won't respond properly for a while.

@fritzo I would agree with that assessment. Best wishes with your outcome.