Elvie is the name given to a smart Kegel tracker. But let's start from the beginning: what actually is Kegel? This is how the exercise of pelvic floor muscles is called. The label comes from gynaecologist Arnold Kegel, who in the Fifties found out how simple contractions could help strengthen the pelvic floor and prevent or reduce urinary incontinence, especially after pregnancy. It is also claimed that repeatedly contracting and releasing the pubococcygeal muscles improves sex enjoyment and facilitates orgasm in women, while increasing size and intensity of erections in men. All in all, people doing Kegel exercises develop greater bladder and bowel control and major sexual gratification.
Since the pelvic muscle is out of sight, it is considered difficult to actually exercise it. Stopping urine flow is a technique that can be used to identify the right muscle, but it should not be performed often because holding in pee is risky for one's health. In addition, pelvic toning devices have been designed to make exercising easier. The first one was the perineometer, invented by Kegel himself. The tool combined rubber balloons and tubes which measured pressure resorting to a water column. You can imagine, it was not really practical. Over time, other devices were launched on the market ranging from barbells (vaginal cones that can be actively retained in the vagina) to electro-stimulators, rubber resistance balls and springs.
Now, back to Elvie: this is the latest technology produced to satisfy women's demand for an intimate personal trainer. The pebble-shaped part that is used internally has motion-detecting sensors and via Bluetooth can provide real-time feedback regarding the wearer's exercises. In order to make the workout fun and, therefore, more appealing, the training was designed as a video game divided in three levels (beginner, intermediate and expert): using her pelvic muscles, the player has to keep a ball bouncing above a given line. The interface is the screen of her smartphone. For competitive users, there is the option to set records in speed and pulse challenges. Once used, Elvie should simply be washed with warm water and put in its discreet case, which also functions as a charger.
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