Why you might need reverse Kegels, according to pelvic floor therapists - The Washington Post

What the report says

The Washington Post reported in a wellness article that some people may need “reverse Kegels,” a pelvic floor exercise approach discussed by pelvic floor therapists, rather than standard Kegels alone. The article’s available preview says there are several ways to perform pelvic floor exercises and warns that directing effort toward the wrong type can be counterproductive.

Based on the headline and snippet, the central point is that pelvic floor care is not one-size-fits-all. Traditional Kegels generally involve contracting and lifting the pelvic floor muscles, while reverse Kegels are commonly described in pelvic health education as emphasizing release, relaxation or lengthening of those muscles, often coordinated with breathing. The Post frames the distinction as clinically relevant because therapists may recommend different strategies depending on a person’s symptoms and muscle function.

General context: pelvic floor muscles support bladder, bowel and sexual function, and both weakness and excessive tension can contribute to problems. People often hear Kegels promoted as a default strengthening exercise, especially after childbirth or for urinary leakage, but pelvic floor specialists commonly caution that strengthening an already tense or poorly coordinated pelvic floor may worsen discomfort or dysfunction. That broader principle appears consistent with the Post’s preview warning that choosing the wrong exercise focus can backfire.

The full Washington Post article text was not available in the supplied material, so details such as the therapists interviewed, specific instructions, medical caveats or patient examples could not be verified here. Readers with pelvic pain, urinary or bowel symptoms, pregnancy-related concerns or post-surgical issues should seek individualized assessment from a qualified clinician rather than relying on generic exercise advice.