Description
The Aquaflex System consists of two vaginal cones, one larger than the other, and 4 weights. Each cone unscrews into two halves and within each cone is a small post onto which the weights can be threaded. The combination of cone size and weight range means that the System can meet the needs of women with a range of pelvic floor weakness. The vaginal cones do rely on gravity to be effective and therefore need to be used whilst standing. Each cone has a hygienic cord affixed to it for easy removal from the vagina.
A cone is inserted like a tampon. The 5g weight in the larger cone is the easiest to hold and hence is a suitable starting point for many women with pelvic floor weakness. But the flexibility of the system allows women to progress through to holding 55g in the smaller cone. Once inserted the muscles automatically contract to hold the cone in place, with the reflex action exercising and strengthening the pelvic floor muscles. Aquaflex vaginal cones should be used for up to 20 mins a day; when it becomes easy to hold a cone, it's time to increase the weight inside it or progress to the smaller cone.
Australian-manufactured Add On Weights are now available for use with the Aquaflex larger cone. These Add On Weights are designed to be used as part of an active weight training program using the muscle strengthening principles of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Aquaflex vaginal cones are manufactured in the UK from high quality plastic and the weights are made stainless steel, with the System packaged in an attractive plastic pack. Full instructions, written with the help of leading continence physiotherapists, are provided.
Like other vaginal cones, Aquaflex Pelvic Floor Exercise System is most suitable for women with established pelvic muscle weakness who want to re-establish sufficient strength to overcome stress incontinence. The fact that the System must be used during normal daily activity is also a bonus for women who do not want to spend a period of each day exercising on a bed or floor. Women who already have reasonable pelvic floor muscle strength and want to extend it further may need the greater challenge offered by a feedback device, or may prefer to use the Add On Weights Set 1 in a program of active weight training.
Insertion of the vaginal cones is sometimes made easier by the use of a very small amount of water-based lubricant - but be careful, as too much lubricant would make the cones difficult to hold. We stock Sylk Natural Personal Lubricant as the best product for this purpose.
The Aquaflex Pelvic Floor Exercise System is included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, and GST exempt as a device for the treatment of incontinence.
We suggest buyers exercise caution when choosing vaginal cones; we are aware of some coloured plastic weighted cones being sold in Australia that are poorly moulded, have sharp edges, and seams that present a substantial infection risk. In contrast, Aquaflex are a quality product, manufactured under CE certification, and widely used by health professionals.
Some women may find that the Aquaflex cones are too small to sit correctly within the vagina. Michelle Kenway, specialist physiotherapist describes the problem this way on her website (www.pelvicexercises.com.au):
"Some ladies who have had pelvic floor damage from very large babies, forceps deliveries and breech births, have a larger vagina. It is fairly easy for you to test your vaginal size simply by inserting one or two lubricated fingers into your vagina. If you can feel the inside walls of their vagina sitting against your finger or two fingers can usually manage to use the smaller or larger cone. Women with a larger vaginal vault (more than two finger spaces), sometimes cannot feel a (..) 25mm diameter sized [device] and/or they report that it falls out of their vagina..... "
If this applies to you, products such as vaginal balls with a wider diameter than cones, may be a preferable weight.
Is Aquaflex right for you? Read a specialist physio's views on Aqualfex here.
