Do At-Home Pelvic Floor Exercisers Really Work? | Dr. Allyson Shrikhande
Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast
Is There a Difference Between Internal and External Medical Devices?
No randomized controlled trial data here. I would say it's more of a preference, a patient preference as to how you would want to stimulate your pelvic floor. Some maybe FDA approval, they may be pending their FDA approval. You could probably ask them that if it's something you're interested in. Are you applying? Are you pending? Where are you in the process? Any questions or concerns you would have? And so I'd love to get your perspective.
The pelvic floor plays an important role supporting the bowel and bladder (as well as the uterus and vagina in females). Hormone changes due to pregnancy and peri/menopause and other factors can impact their function. Several at-home devices are now on the market to support the pelvic floor, but do they help you? And if so, which is right for you? Enter Dr. Allyson Shrikhande.
Dr. Allyson Shrikhande, a board certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist, is the Chief Medical Officer of Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine. She is also the Chair of the Medical Education Committee for the International Pelvic Pain Society. A leading expert on pelvic health and a respected researcher, author and lecturer, Dr. Shrikhande is a recognized authority on male and female pelvic pain diagnosis and treatment.
We discuss the following:
- Do electronic pelvic floor devices work?
- What are the limitations of at-home pelvic floor devices?
- How to afford these devices
- How to know if your device is helping or hurting
- How Pelvic Rehabilitation Center is trying to increase access to care
- What does FDA approval for classified medical devices mean?
We cover the following pelvic floor-related devices, tools, and exercises.
- Elvie
- Perifit
- K-fit
- Flyte
- Innovo
- Elitone
- Thigh master-like devices
- Jade eggs
- Kegel weights
- Exercises like yoga, pilates, hypopressives
“Listen to your body. If your symptoms are getting better, you are on the right path. Before using these devices, get an evaluation, if you can, by a pelvic floor specialist.” - Dr. Allyson Shrikhande
Resources:
Resources and episodes on Pelvic Health
- Follow Pelvic Rehabilitation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
- Learn about Dustienne Miller Yoga and Adriene’s Yoga
- Check out Yoga for Incontinence and Yoga for Postpartum
**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**
Want men to better understand how to you during your menopause journey! Tell us what you want them to know.
If you're passionate about advancing women's health, there are many ways you can support and stay in touch with Fempower Health. Here's how:
- Subscribe and Listen: Tune in to new episodes every Tuesday by subscribing to the Fempower Health Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your regular listenership is invaluable!
- Leave a Review: Help us grow by leaving a review on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover our podcast.
- Share with Others: Spread the word by sharing episodes with friends, family, or anyone interested in women's health. Every share helps!
- Engage in Discussions: Join the Fempower Health Women's Health Community. Learn more here.
- Find Us on Social: Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube, for the latest updates and engaging content.
- Stay Informed: Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest announcements, news, and research directly in your inbox.
- Reach Out: We love hearing from you! Reach out for inquiries, outreach, or even to share your questions and topics of interest.
Together, let's build a stronger community dedicated to women's health. Your support is crucial in this journey!
Dr. Shrikhande, a board certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist, is the Chief Medical Officer of Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine. She is also the Chair of the Medical Education Committee for the International Pelvic Pain Society. Dr. Shrikhande is passionate about this cause and dedicated to helping men and women with pelvic pain who often suffer without anyone willing to listen, understand or find the cause of their pain. That’s why she has traveled the world to work with expert gynecologists, urologists, physiatrists and interventional pain physicians. With an extensive background in mainstream clinical medicine, she also makes use of many alternatives, holistic and homeopathic approaches. She has published peer-reviewed articles on the treatment of muscle pain in academic journals and works closely with renowned pelvic pain gynecologists and urologists. Taking a team approach, she works with specialists in pelvic floor physical therapy, kinetics and movement, as well as acupuncturists, nutritionists, cognitive behavioral therapists and functional medicine physicians. Dr. Allyson Shrikhande currently teaches fall and spring remote courses at the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute.
**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**
**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**
The AI-powered Podcast Player
