RS-48 Modality FAQ
Q. Which program should I use?
levina pelvic floor electrical stimulator comes with four built-in modes (pain relief, incontinence treatment, pelvic training, relaxation recovery) and supports multiple languages, eliminating the guesswork in selecting a program. In the manual's treatment and recommendation section, tables will assist you in choosing or browsing through all modes, providing professional advice from doctors or therapists on how best to use your device to treat common medical conditions.
Q. How do I adjust the intensity of levina pelvic floor muscle electrical stimulation?
The intensity of the current is influenced by skin thickness, moisture level, electrode material (metal part of the probe), and contact area. When adjusting the intensity, always choose a level that feels comfortable for you; when performing muscle training with vaginal and/or anal probes, ensure that the pelvic floor muscles can feel noticeable contractions so that the current pulses penetrate deeply into the muscles, approximately at 80% of the maximum tolerable intensity. When using skin electrodes for pain treatment, use approximately 70% of the maximum tolerable intensity as a reference, prioritizing comfort.
Q. I can't feel the stimulation. How do I know if it's effective?
If the screen displays the running mode and numbers (indicating that the device is powered), you need to adjust the +/- to change the intensity to a level you can feel. Since every woman is different, the perceived intensity varies, and you can set the intensity that suits you. Our goal is to generate a mild tingling sensation; it should be comfortable, but you should feel the stimulation contracting your muscles. To increase the intensity, you'll see plus and minus signs on the stimulator or remote control; increase the intensity until you feel noticeable muscle contractions. When using probes, the intensity should focus on feeling muscle contractions (for muscle training); when using skin electrodes, prioritize comfort (for relaxation and pain relief).
Q. I can't increase the intensity to feel noticeable contractions, and it's too painful – why is that?
If you're using a vaginal probe and can't increase the intensity to feel noticeable contractions without experiencing pain, you may have vaginal atrophy or dryness. Vaginal atrophy may make using pelvic floor muscle electrical stimulators painful because the vaginal tissues are very dry. In many cases, vaginal atrophy and dryness also lead to symptoms of pelvic floor weakness, so you may experience urinary incontinence. Seek assistance from your specialist or healthcare provider; some injected medications can help plump up vaginal tissues, allowing you to comfortably use vaginal probes. After 30 days of treatment, you should be able to resume using pelvic floor electrical stimulators with vaginal probes. Alternatively, we recommend using skin electrodes on the ankle area (peroneal nerve stimulation) and the bottom of the spine (sacral nerve stimulation). These procedures use skin electrodes, so you won't experience discomfort from vaginal probes while still achieving clinically proven results. levina recognizes that many women with vaginal atrophy may not be able to use vaginal probes, which is why we also recommend using peroneal and sacral nerve stimulation. If you have vaginal atrophy, don't stop pelvic floor exercises. You can still strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and reap the benefits of improved tone, control, and sensation.
Q. Why is it painful or difficult for me to insert the vaginal probe?
Please use a water-based lubricant without estrogen. (Generally available medical water-based lubricants are suitable). Just a few drops of lubricant applied to the probe for easier insertion. The lubricant provided with levina ensures good moisture and electrical conductivity, making it ideal for effective muscle stimulation. If you're going through menopause or postmenopause, you may have vaginal atrophy, which causes vaginal dryness, thinning vaginal walls, and significant discomfort. Unfortunately, in this case, lubricant alone may not be enough. You have two options: ask your doctor for a course of topical estrogen cream or moisturizer. A 30-day course should allow you to continue using vaginal probes. If vaginal probe treatment isn't suitable for you, consider using peroneal nerve stimulation (via the ankle) and sacral nerve stimulation (at the bottom of the spine). These procedures use skin electrodes, so you won't experience discomfort from vaginal probes while still achieving clinically proven results. If you have vaginal atrophy, don't stop pelvic floor exercises. You can still strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and reap the benefits of improved tone, control, and sensation.
Q. Which mode should I use for urgency urinary incontinence, and which mode should I use for mixed urinary incontinence?
Choose the appropriate mode based on the texts on the remote control. All bladder symptoms, including leakage, urgency, and frequency, can be improved by strengthening and adjusting pelvic floor muscle exercises. Healthy pelvic floor muscles can contract better under bladder pressure, increasing your control when you feel the urge to urinate and providing greater delay when needed. The electrical stimulation will cause your muscles to contract and relax in a regular exercise pattern. If your bladder is sensitive or overactive, you can also use the mode for urgency urinary incontinence to calm the bladder muscles through neural modulation.
Q. Should I voluntarily contract during the treatment process?
For best results, try to contract your pelvic floor muscles voluntarily while the device is stimulating. If possible, synchronize the contractions with your breathing for a rhythmic approach. After strengthening the pelvic floor with the levina pelvic floor muscle stimulator, continue exercising the pelvic floor muscles regularly.
Q. I've been practicing for two weeks, but I haven't noticed any improvement.
Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles takes time and a bit of patience. It's common not to notice immediate improvements in the first few weeks. So please, stick with it. Before muscles fully recover and strengthen, consistent training is essential, typically lasting at least 6 to 8 weeks before progress becomes noticeable. Like any muscle strength training, without regular use, muscles can gradually weaken and atrophy. Therefore, continuous training can help prevent urinary leakage issues from recurring.
Q. I have uterine prolapse. What positions are best for me?
When using vaginal or anal probes: The method you should use varies depending on the type and severity of prolapse. Certain types of prolapse may hinder proper contact between the vaginal probe and the muscle wall. Therefore, we recommend practicing while lying down with your hips elevated. Placing a pillow or cushion under your hips will ensure that the prolapsed organs are not putting pressure on the pelvic floor during the exercise. If using a vaginal or anal probe, you may find it easier to exercise first thing in the morning before getting out of bed, as the prolapsed organs may not have "naturally descended" yet. This is because your pelvic organs descend when you stand up and move around. Consequently, some women find it difficult to insert the probe at night (at the end of the day). Alternatively, you can stimulate certain points on the body externally using skin electrodes instead of vaginal/anal probes. The stimulation point for the tibial nerve is the ankle, and for the sacral nerve, it is the base of the spine. When using electrode pads, we recommend that you sit comfortably with your legs raised.
