An app to help women do exercises to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles.
| Pelvic Floor First |
Continence Foundation of Australia |
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Features
- General exercise videos incorporating a variety of muscles
(does not isolate the pelvic floor)
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| Clinical review |
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| User reviews |
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| Cost |
Free |
What does the app do?
This app comprises a series of general exercise videos such as low cardio impact, arm and leg raises and shoulder stretch. It also has a video describing the anatomy of the pelvic floor muscles and how it helps to maintain bladder and bowel control.
For the app description, go to the App website , Google Play , iTunes and for a detailed review, see Reviews.
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CONS |
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✔ Multiple general exercise videos with a timer.
✔ Can play music on your phone
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✘ The app is mainly filled with general exercise instruction videos. There is very limited instruction on how to isolate and contract your pelvic floor.
✘ It has a timer for the general exercises but none for the pelvic floor contraction exercise.
✘ It doesn’t tell you how many weeks you should do it for before you should see a benefit.
✘ The app recommends 10 sets of 3-10 second holds, which is generally less than the trials which are generally three sets of 8-12 contractions sustained for 8-10 seconds.
✘ The app was very buggy across three different devices I tried, videos would take a long time to download or not download at all.
✘ No section on bladder training for urge incontinence, or any education section about the different types of incontinence.
✘ No section on pelvic pain.
✘ No reminders.
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Privacy and security
The app does not have a privacy or security statement. The app does not collect any 'personal' information. Read more about things you can do to improve your safety and security when using apps.
Review details
Date of review: September 2018
Platform reviewed: Android
Version: 2.0.0
Download size: 47 MB
Last updated: March 2018
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Clinical review
Reviewer: Jeremy Steinberg, GP, RNZCGP
Date of review: September 2018
Comments: This app is useful for people looking for an exercise program for general fitness. Pelvic floor exercises are an effective treatment for many types of urinary incontinence. Unfortunately, this app’s main focus appears to be on general cardio exercise, with only one paragraph specifically on pelvic floor training. Some of the types of exercises shown could in fact bring on the incontinence such as squats. I am not aware of any evidence that cardio type exercises are helpful for this problem.
The commonly recommended exercise regimen is three sets of 8-12 contractions sustained for 8-10 seconds each, done three times daily. The app recommends significantly less repetitions than this. It also doesn’t recommend a duration before seeing benefit; it should be done for at least 15-20 weeks.
Some women will benefit from seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist, the exercises are most effective in this context. Some women are unable to isolate their pelvic floor muscles and so exercises without the initial instruction may be ineffective. The app has no information about this.
While pelvic floor exercises can be useful for stress and urge incontinence, bladder training should be considered for urge incontinence. The app has no information or training regarding this.
Pelvic floor exercises are sometimes used for pelvic pain, generally after an initial stretching program. The app mentions its use in pelvic pain in passing but has no further information on the topic.
The lack of reminders also greatly reduces this app’s usefulness; poor compliance with exercises is a major factor in failure to improve.
The app is also very buggy.
Safety concerns: If used for pelvic pain it could make the pain worse. Certain exercises shown could also bring on incontinence. It doesn’t have any information about when you should see your doctor.
New Zealand relevance: Nothing of note.
