Excessive Kegels
The pace of your Kegel routine is designed to build up your pelvic floor muscles gradually over time. While you may think that performing more than the recommended number of Kegels will increase the speed of muscle strengthening, this is not the case. In fact, performing an excessive number of Kegels can lead to weakening of your pelvic floor muscles. In turn, this weakening side effect can lead to a further reduction in your ability to control your bladder.
Using the Right Muscles
MedlinePlus reports no side effects when Kegel exercises are performed according to general recommendations. However, if you don’t engage the proper muscles during your routine, you won’t improve your bladder control. Muscles that are commonly mistakenly engaged during Kegel exercises include the upper leg, back and abdominal muscles. You can practice contracting your pelvic floor muscles by sitting on your toilet when you urinate and consciously stopping your urine flow. You can also lie down, insert a single finger into your rectum and contract your muscles around it. Consult your doctor for additional information.