Kegel exercises and childhood incontinence: a new role for an old treatment.

Kegel exercises were used to treat urinary incontinence in 79 children. An average of less than 2 hours of professional time was required. Incontinence was eliminated in 60% of the patients; children who had both day and night wetting tended to show simultaneous improvements in both problems. Research is needed to test the hypothesis that Kegel exercises eliminate involuntary contractions of the detrusor muscle.