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Pelvic floor exercises are one of the most effective things you can do for bladder control, recovery after childbirth or surgery, and sexual health. The trouble is that the pelvic floor is a hidden, internal muscle group, which makes it genuinely difficult to know whether you are exercising it correctly, or exercising it at all.
This is exactly the gap that biofeedback and pelvic floor stimulation devices are designed to fill. They take an invisible muscle and make it measurable, giving you real information about what your pelvic floor is doing and helping you train it far more effectively than guesswork alone.
This guide explains what these devices are, the important difference between biofeedback and electrical stimulation, what they can help with, and how they are used.
A Quick Reminder: What the Pelvic Floor Does
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that sits like a supportive sling across the base of the pelvis. In both men and women, it helps control the bladder and bowel, supports the pelvic organs, and plays an important role in sexual function.
Like any muscle group, it can become weak, overactive, or poorly coordinated. This can happen after childbirth, during and after menopause, following prostate or pelvic surgery, or simply with age. The result can be bladder leaks, urgency, reduced sexual sensation, or a feeling of heaviness or poor support. Targeted training is the usual first-line approach, and that is where these devices come in.
Why Ordinary Pelvic Floor Exercises Can Fall Short
Standard pelvic floor exercises, often called Kegels, work well when they are done correctly. The problem is that a large number of people do not do them correctly, often without realising it. Because you cannot easily see or feel the muscles, it is common to:
- squeeze the wrong muscles, such as the buttocks, thighs, or stomach
- hold your breath or bear down instead of lifting
- struggle to locate the pelvic floor at all
- have no way of knowing whether things are improving over time
Without feedback, you are effectively exercising in the dark. This is the core problem that biofeedback and stimulation devices are built to solve, each in a different way.
What Is a Biofeedback Device?
A biofeedback device measures the electrical activity your muscles produce when they contract, using a small sensor known as an EMG sensor. It then shows that activity back to you in real time, usually as a moving line or bar on a screen or app.
The key point is that you do the exercising. The device simply acts as a mirror, telling you whether you are engaging the right muscles, how strongly you are contracting, whether you can hold the contraction, and how well you relax afterwards. Over time, it lets you see genuine, measurable progress.
Think of it as a mirror for a hidden muscle
You would not train in the gym with your eyes closed. Biofeedback gives the pelvic floor the same visibility any other muscle gets, turning a guessing game into something you can actually see and measure.
What Is Electrical Stimulation: A Pelvic Toner?
Electrical stimulation, often labelled NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation), works the other way around. Instead of measuring your effort, the device sends gentle electrical pulses that cause the pelvic floor muscles to contract for you.
This is especially useful when the muscles are very weak, or when someone genuinely cannot locate or activate their pelvic floor on their own. The stimulation shows the body what a proper contraction feels like and helps wake up muscles that are not responding well, building a foundation you can then train more actively.
Devices like these are often described as pelvic toners, because they help tone and strengthen the muscles through assisted contractions rather than measurement.
Biofeedback vs Stimulation: The Key Difference
These two technologies are frequently confused, but the distinction is simple once you see it side by side.
| Feature | Biofeedback (EMG) | Stimulation (NMES / toner) |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Measures your muscle activity and shows it to you | Contracts the muscles for you with gentle pulses |
| Who does the work | You do the contractions | The device triggers the contractions |
| Best for | Learning correct technique and tracking progress | Very weak muscles, or trouble locating them |
| Main benefit | Confirms you are training the right way | Kick-starts activation and strength |
Importantly, these approaches are not rivals. Many people benefit from both, and some devices combine them, using stimulation to build strength while biofeedback ensures you are training correctly. Certain advanced units even trigger stimulation the moment they detect you contracting, blending the two into one action.
What Can These Devices Help With?
Pelvic floor devices are used for a wide range of concerns in both men and women, including:
- stress incontinence, such as leaks when coughing, sneezing, or exercising
- urge incontinence and an overactive bladder
- mixed incontinence, a combination of both
- recovery after prostate surgery in men
- postnatal recovery and rebuilding strength after childbirth
- support for mild pelvic organ prolapse
- improving sexual sensation and control
- retraining an overactive or poorly coordinated pelvic floor
Because they can both strengthen a weak pelvic floor and help retrain one that is not coordinating well, these devices are versatile tools within a broader pelvic health plan.
How Are They Used?
In practice, using one of these devices is usually straightforward. Depending on the device and your needs, it connects either to a small internal probe (vaginal or anal) or to skin-surface electrode pads. You then run a preset programme suited to your goal, such as one for leakage, urgency, or strengthening.
Sessions are typically short, often around twenty minutes, and done regularly over a number of weeks. As with any muscle training, consistency is what delivers results. Many people notice improvement over a course of weeks rather than days, and the effects build with continued use.
Best results come from routine
These devices are not a one-off fix. They work when used consistently as part of a routine, ideally guided by your GP or a pelvic health physiotherapist who can tailor the programme to you.
The NeuroTrac Range at The Urology Shop
Our pelvic toner and biofeedback devices come from NeuroTrac, one of Europe's most established names in pelvic floor rehabilitation, manufactured in the UK by Verity Medical and used by physiotherapists and clinicians for over two decades. All are UKCA-marked medical devices.
The range runs from simple home-use stimulation devices through to clinic-grade biofeedback systems, so there is an option to match different needs and stages of recovery. Two of the most popular starting points are below.
Best for home toning
NeuroTrac PelviTone
The PelviTone is the most popular choice for home use. It gently exercises the pelvic floor with electrical stimulation, using preset programmes for leakage, urgency, and pelvic pain. Suitable for both men and women.
A great starting point if your GP or physiotherapist has recommended electrical stimulation. From £129.99.
Best for training technique
NeuroTrac Myoplus Pro
The Myoplus Pro goes beyond stimulation by showing your muscle activity in real time with EMG biofeedback. It helps you, and your physiotherapist, see exactly how your pelvic floor is working and track improvement.
Ideal if you want to be sure you are training correctly, or are following a structured rehab programme. From £539.99.
For everyday home continence there is also the simpler NeuroTrac Continence, while clinicians working across multiple muscle sites may prefer the flagship Myoplus Pro 4. You can see the full range on the Pelvic Toners & Biofeedback Devices page.
Choosing the Right Device
The best device depends on where you are in your journey and how much guidance you have.
| If you want to… | A sensible option |
|---|---|
| Start simple with home continence treatment | NeuroTrac Continence |
| Tone and strengthen at home with more programmes | NeuroTrac PelviTone |
| See your muscle activity and perfect your technique | NeuroTrac Myoplus Pro |
| Access clinic-grade assessment and reporting | NeuroTrac Myoplus Pro 4 |
If you are working with a physiotherapist, it is always worth asking which device best matches your treatment plan, as many clinicians already use NeuroTrac in practice.
Safety and When to Get Advice
These are medical devices, and while they are safe for most people when used correctly, electrical stimulation is not suitable for everyone.
Check with a professional before using stimulation
Speak to your GP or pelvic health physiotherapist before starting, particularly if you are pregnant, have a pacemaker or other implanted electrical device, have a heart rhythm condition, or have undiagnosed pelvic pain or bleeding. If in doubt, get advice first.
A few other practical points help you get the most from a device safely:
- internal probes are personal items and should not be shared, for hygiene reasons
- most stimulation devices are sold without probes or electrodes, so check what you need to buy alongside
- follow the programmes and session times in the instructions rather than overdoing it
- stop and seek advice if you experience pain, irritation, or anything that does not feel right
What People Often Want to Know
What is the difference between a pelvic toner and a biofeedback device?
A pelvic toner uses electrical stimulation to contract the muscles for you, which is helpful when they are weak or hard to locate. A biofeedback device measures the contractions you make yourself and shows them in real time, helping you train correctly. Some devices do both.
Can men use these devices?
Yes. Pelvic floor problems affect men too, particularly after prostate surgery, and several devices in the range are suitable for men using an anal probe or surface electrodes.
How long until I see results?
It varies, but many people notice improvement over a number of weeks of consistent use rather than days. As with any muscle training, regular use is what matters most.
Do I need a probe or electrodes?
Usually yes, and they are often sold separately from the device. Internal probes are personal items for a single user. Check the product details so you order everything you need.
Are they safe to use at home?
For most people, yes, when used as instructed. However, electrical stimulation is not suitable for everyone, so check with your GP or physiotherapist first, especially if any of the cautions above apply to you.
Final Thoughts
Pelvic floor training genuinely works, but only when the right muscles are trained in the right way. Biofeedback and stimulation devices take the guesswork out of that process, either by showing you exactly what your pelvic floor is doing or by helping weak muscles contract and rebuild strength.
Whether you are managing bladder leaks, recovering after surgery or childbirth, or simply want to train more effectively, a device like the NeuroTrac PelviTone or Myoplus Pro can make a real difference. And because everyone's situation is different, a quick word with your GP or pelvic health physiotherapist is the best way to choose the device and programme that suit you.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your own health and before starting any new treatment or device.