Skip to content
njug

njug

Enjoy Fashion

Primary Menu
  • Shopping & Women
  • Fashion & Shopping
  • Face and Body Spa
  • Cosmetics Woman
  • Beauty & Fashion
  • Fashion Style
  • About Us
    • Advertise Here
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Sitemap
  • Home
  • Training breakthrough helping Wales tackle unspoken issue ahead of the Six Nations
  • Cosmetics Woman

Training breakthrough helping Wales tackle unspoken issue ahead of the Six Nations

By Larry M. Lee 3 years ago

A new chapter is set to begin for Wales as they enter their first Six Nations with women’s players on full-time contracts, but a new type of kegel training also promises to give the team a fresh edge

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

The video will auto-play soon8Cancel

Play now

Perifit – Kegel game – Strengthen pelvic floor

Wales ‘ prospects have rarely looked higher over the past decade or so as they approach this year’s Women’s Six Nations, their first tournament since introducing the country’s first wave of full-time players.

That’s not all that’s new around the camp ahead of the 2022 competition, however, as the team has been using Kegel training as a means of combating one of the major taboos associated with women’s sports. Specifically, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has partnered with femtech brand Elvie in an effort to fight urinary incontinence.

A study of female university rugby players found 54 per cent had experienced incontinence at some point, growing to 79 per cent accounting for women in general aged 18 to 35. Of those, 68 per cent said they leak “at least once per week,” underlining just how common the issue is.


Shaun Edwards: The days of France falling victim to England mind games have gone


BT’s augmented reality revolution can bring rugby into the 21st century and lure new fans

Those involved in high-impact sports like running and gymnastics have returned even higher numbers (up to 80 per cent), but pelvic floor issues are rarely spoken about. As a result, many women feel too ashamed to seek help and ultimately give up certain sports altogether for fear of embarrassment or a lack of understanding.

The WRU is hoping to change that, however, after using the Elvie Trainer to focus more heavily on Kegel exercises and help players tackle the negative connotations surrounding ‘leakage’. Jo Perkins, the head physio for Wales’ women’s team, told Mirror Sport incontinence stems as a symptom of “pelvic floor dysfunction,” highlighting the important role the squad’s new tool can play in identifying weaknesses in that area.

The internal device gives “real-time feedback” to determine whether an athlete is contracting their pelvic floor effectively. “That’s the real beauty of it,” said Perkins. “Up to 70 per cent of women are not tightening the muscles effectively. Because we can’t see them—it’s not like a bicep tightening or releasing—it’s really hard for some women to know if they’re doing it right.







Wales Women head physio Jo Perkins is a big advocate for the Elvie Trainer and promoting pelvic floor health
(

Image:

welshrugbyunion/Instagram)

Who do you think will win the 2022 Six Nations? Let us know in the comments section.

“That’s where the Elvie [Trainer] is fantastic, because it links to an app on their phone and [tells them] ‘Right, you’re squeezing’ or ‘You’re not tightening enough or releasing effectively.'”

Each member of the Wales squad has been given their own Elvie device, although Perkins highlighted not every player will have to persevere with the Kegel training unless their feedback suggests it’s necessary. She believes pelvic floor training isn’t talked about enough in the male sector, either, although the difference in anatomies, hormones and childbirth makes women far more susceptible to problems like incontinence.

Research has also shown mothers can experience greater difficulty with urinary incontinence when they attempted to run following childbirth. Results published by the Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy in January showed pelvic floor concerns were “prevalent throughout pregnancy and postpartum.”


Record-holder Alun Wyn Jones a shock starter for Wales vs Italy in last Six Nations test


England’s Eddie Jones slammed for “pathetic macho stuff” prior to record Six Nations loss

“High impact and intensity sports can cause high intra-abdominal pressures, which can result in pelvic floor dysfunction, including abdominal pain and incontinence,” added pelvic health specialist Perkins. “In turn, these can affect an athlete’s ability to move effectively, generate force and ultimately perform at their best.

“The symptoms can also impact the psychological well-being of players, causing anxiety, fear and embarrassment. Athletes, and women more broadly, should never have to suffer in silence with the physical or emotional impact of these conditions.”

The issue isn’t exclusive to contact-heavy sports like rugby, either, as Team GB Olympic gymnast Laura Gallagher Cox recently told the Telegraph how urinary incontinence affects those in her field: “I’ve been at competitions where I’ve seen girls pee as they take off – when they do a double back somersault you’ll genuinely see urine flying through the air.”

It’s often the case in male-dominated sports that the training methods and general format of the women’s game tends to take inspiration from their gender counterparts. However, the incorporation of Elvie’s technology and Kegel training in general is an example of the women’s game breaking necessary boundaries of its own.







Bristol Bears star Jasmine Joyce is one of Wales’ major stars heading into the 2022 Six Nations
(

Image:

jasminejoycee/Instagram)

As is to be expected among a group of elite-level athletes, Wales and Bristol Bears winger Jasmine ‘Jazz’ Joyce detailed the kind of new contests that have sprouted since the equipment was introduced. “One of the girls came in the other day and was like ‘I got a PB (personal best) on my Elvie!’ So, stuff like that, it’s massive for us.

“It’s something new, it’s something different that all of us are willing to try and see if things like that work,” she told the Mirror, speaking on behalf of Guinness for the Never Settle campaign.

. “So it’s brilliant that they’re thinking about us, and that’s obviously female-specific as well, so it’s not just something they’ve taken off the back of the man. It’s something that is there to help us as female athletes.”

Joyce was one of the initial batch of 12 Wales players to be awarded a 12-month full-time contract at the beginning of 2022, while another 15 players have been given ‘retainer’ contracts. Gloucester-Hartpury centre Hannah Jones is another among that new full-time corps and echoed a similar sentiment that it felt good to be treated “like woman athletes, not just a little man.”







Star Wales centre Hannah Jones gave positive feedback from her early experiences using the Elvie Trainer
(

Image:

hannahj_12/Instagram)

“We’ve been educated on periods and the Elvie Trainer, which is something new we haven’t thought about before,” added Jones. “So little things like this maybe could help with our core, our tackle technique—bracing before the tackle—and jumping, stuff like that. So that’s been introduced to my training programme, and so far you can see little gains every week, which we’ll see in the [Six Nations] games if it’s helping.”

Jones described one “really cool” feature of the linked app in regards to nutrition advice, such as suggesting a player eats more red meat if their levels showed they are lacking iron. It’s rare that the men’s side may feel envious of the resources on offer elsewhere, but Elvie’s functionality may begin to turn that tide.

The timing couldn’t be better given Wales are soon set to embark on a Six Nations campaign backed by the first influx of players who are able to train and play without the need for other employment. The delayed 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup will also take place later this year in New Zealand, presenting a further testing ground to see what impact the Elvie Trainer might have.

Wales are scheduled to kick off their 2022 Six Nations campaign away to two-time champions Ireland on March 26, hoping to move on from last year’s Wooden Spoon finish in a daunting first fixture. Regardless of that result at the RDS Arena in Dublin, however, head coach Ioan Cunningham’s side are already breaking new ground in their quest to reach rugby’s pinnacle.

Guinness is working with its partners to make sure rugby is inclusive and welcoming for everyone. To find out more visit www.guinness.com/neversettle #neversettle

Read More

Rugby ref legend Nigel Owens calls on men struggling with mental health to reach out and seek support

Read More

Welsh rugby star Ifan Phillips gets new leg and foot 100 days after motorcycle accident

Tags: 1172 Fashion Lagos Nigeria, 1980s Controversial Aerobics -Fashion, Are Murses In Fashion, Arkadsa, Blake Lively Fashion Spt, Daily Fashion Pic, Danse Call Me Old Fashion, Evolutions Of Fashion Models, Fashion Black Tisher For Men, Fashion Blog Athletic, Fashion Blog Sims R, Fashion Brands West, Fashion Cat Accessories, Fashion Designer With Kmart, Fashion Designer Yohji Yamamoto, Fashion Designs Art Themed, Fashion Dressses Only Makes Dresses, Fashion Fabric Suppliers Us, Fashion Figures For Second Life, Fashion For Young Women, Fashion Hello February Graphicsposts, Fashion Institute Of Technology Girl, Fashion Interiors Logo, Fashion Internship Sweden, Fashion Japan 2020, Fashion Line, Fashion Necklaces With Glitter, Fashion Nova Discont Codes, Fashion Nova One Year, Fashion Show Eyebrows, Fashion Stylist In Manila, Fashion Today Jackson, Fashion Week Worldwide Dates 2019, Fashion With Athletic Legs Men, Flushing Fashion City, High Fashion Memes, Hoyoung Thug Fashion, Kelly Slater Wades Into Fashion, Kelly The Office Fashion Show, Kylie.Jenner Fashion Nova Commercial, Lolita Fashion From Amazon Reddit, Pink Foil Janoski Fashion, Plus Size Fashion Summer 2017, Plus Sizewomen'S Fashion Clothing, Russian Fashion Freaks, Secondlife Black Fashion, Street Wear Fashion Brands, Teen Vogue Non Binary Fashion, The Outsiders Tv Show Fashion, Tn, When To Use Fashion Tape, Womens Fashion With Green Sandles

Continue Reading

Previous Fatal illness after three consecutive cosmetic surgery operations: an investigation opened
Next Well Told Closes a Tranche of its Private Placement of Convertible Debenture Units for Gross Proceeds of $1.275 Million
June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    

Archives

  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • January 2025
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • March 2020
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • December 2016

Categories

  • Beauty & Fashion
  • Cosmetics Woman
  • Face and Body Spa
  • Fashion & Shopping
  • Fashion Style
  • Shopping & Women
  • Weight loss

Recent Posts

  • The Craft of Personal Adornment: Redefining Fine Jewellery Beyond Status 
  • 8 Not So Obvious Mistakes to Avoid for UIUC Supplemental Essays
  • 2025 Oscar Fashion Predictions: Who Will Shine?
  • Best Dressed Hollywood Stars of 2025: Who’s Leading?
  • Minimalist Fashion Trends You Need to Know

bl

SeedBL

Seedbacklink
njug.co.uk | Magazine 7 by AF themes.

WhatsApp us