Bladder Control Exercises

In addition to taking your medicine, you may be able to improve the symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB) by doing special exercises called "Kegels." These exercises can help strengthen pelvic floor muscles. That can help keep urine from leaking.

Kegels can be done anywhere. But doing them right takes practice.

Tips for doing Kegel exercises

Here are the basics.

• Find the muscles by imagining trying to control passing gas. Or, think of the muscles you use to try to stop the flow of urine.
• Squeeze the muscles and hold for 3 seconds. (Women should get a lifting feeling in the area around the vagina. Or a “pulling in” of the rectum.)
• Then completely relax the muscle for a count of 3. (It’s important to control both the tightening and relaxing of the muscle.)
• Do this 10 times at first. If this is very easy, try holding for 5 seconds. Rest between contractions for the same amount of time.
• Work up to holding contractions for 6 to 10 seconds. Then rest for 10 seconds.

Try to do at least 30 to 50 Kegel exercises per day. Exercise in sets of 10 at first. As you get stronger, you can do more sets fewer times a day. Exercising each day is best, but 3 or 4 times a week will still help. The more you perform these exercises, the stronger your pelvic floor muscles will get. And the faster you'll improve. Alternate between lying down, sitting, or standing when doing the exercises. This will help you to have more control.

TIP: For an easy reminder, set a time for doing your Kegel exercises every day—like in the car on the way to work, on your lunch break, or at night while watching TV.