A nurse teaches a female client who has stress incontinence. Which statements should the nurse include about pelvic muscle exercises? (Select all that apply.)

Question

a. "When you start and stop your urine stream, you are using your pelvic muscles."
b. "Tighten your pelvic muscles for a slow count of 10 and then relax for a slow count of 10."
c. "Pelvic muscle exercises should only be performed sitting upright with your feet on the floor."
d. "After you have been doing these exercises for a couple days, your control of urine will improve."
e. "Like any other muscle in your body, you can make your pelvic muscles stronger by contracting them."

Answer 1

ANS: A, B, E
The client should be taught that the muscles used to start and stop urination are pelvic muscles, and that pelvic muscles can be strengthened by contracting and relaxing them. The client should tighten pelvic muscles for a slow count of 10 and then relax the muscles for a slow count of 10, and perform this exercise 15 times while in lying-down, sitting-up, and standing positions. The client should begin to notice improvement in control of urine after several weeks of exercising the pelvic muscles.