A nurse teaches a client to perform Kegel exercise to strengthen the:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Explanation

Kegel exercises are specifically designed to target and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
This group of muscles, including the pubococcygeus, forms a supportive sling for the bladder, uterus, and rectum.
Strengthening these muscles is a key intervention for managing stress urinary incontinence, preventing pelvic organ prolapse, and aiding in postpartum recovery.

Option A: This option is too broad. While pelvic floor muscles are a type of skeletal muscle, Kegel exercises target a very specific group, not the general skeletal musculature of the body.
Option B: The intercostal muscles are located between the ribs and are essential for respiration (breathing).
Option C: The abdominal muscles are part of the core and are strengthened by exercises like crunches, planks, or sit-ups. Contracting the abdomen during Kegels is an incorrect technique.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Purpose and Target of Kegel Exercises to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Nurses play a vital role in patient education, teaching the correct technique for Kegel exercises to manage conditions like stress urinary incontinence, especially in postpartum and post-menopausal women.
It is crucial to ensure the patient can isolate the correct muscles, as contracting the wrong muscles (e.g., abdomen, thighs, or buttocks) is ineffective and can increase intra-abdominal pressure.
What if? If a patient is unable to isolate the pelvic floor muscles through verbal instruction alone, the nurse should recommend alternative methods like biofeedback therapy or the use of weighted vaginal cones to help identify and strengthen the correct muscle group.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question stem, which is 'Kegel exercise'.
Recall the primary function and anatomical target of this specific therapeutic exercise.
Evaluate each option to determine which muscle group is directly strengthened by Kegels.
Eliminate the option 'Skeletal muscles' because it is too general and not the most precise answer.
Rule out 'Intercostal muscles' and 'Abdominal muscles' as they belong to different body systems (respiratory and core abdominal) and are strengthened by different types of exercises.
Select 'Pelvic-floor muscles' as it is the specific and correct target of Kegel exercises.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 5 p. 252-254

E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 50-58

E6 Gynecology Williams p. 383-395

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.