Background information
Hey men, the pelvic floor is not just a woman's thing!
by Ann-Kathrin Schäfer
When your pelvic floor becomes a game cursor
3/12/2025
Translation: machine translated
Are you struggling to realise your resolution to train your pelvic floor? Perhaps our smart pelvic floor trainers will help you to overcome your inner bastard. The expert recommends three top models with integrated games and digital personal trainers.
«Taboo was yesterday», advertises the manufacturer of pelvic floor trainers Acticore on its website. Today, people are talking about the pelvic floor. Some time ago, I also spoke to expert Petra Spalding about the former taboo.
Since that conversation, I know that the physiotherapist recommends that we all regularly train the small muscle group between our legs. Regardless of gender and for life. If you have a few motivation problems, smart gadgets could be suitable for you.
In the jungle of possibilities
But which ones? « If you enter pelvic-floor-trainer» in the Galaxus search box, more than 60 results appear. A few too many to keep track of, in my opinion - and I asked Petra Spalding for advice once again.
First of all, the expert emphasises that you should only use such gadgets if you can control your own pelvic floor well. «I would be cautious about using pelvic floor trainers without a prior session with a physiotherapist», she says. This is because the devices react to any kind of pressure. «Even if you make a completely wrong movement, for example pressing instead of pulling the pelvic floor inwards, you can still achieve a good curve on the app.»
In addition, there is a risk that users lose sight of the quality of the exercise due to their ambition to achieve a high score. «The games spur you on.» However, if done correctly, this is of course justified and encourages users to do what it is supposed to do: practise more and conquer their inner couch potato. «If you know your pelvic floor, such aids are a really good thing», says Spalding. «It has been scientifically proven that people train more with them.»
The expert recommended specific gadgets that are available at Galaxus and that I am happy to share with you here. What they all have in common is that they can be connected to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. You can see your training progress on the associated app and use games to train your muscles in a fun way. The better you get, the more points you earn - and unlock new levels.
1st game trainer to sit on, even for men: Acticore 1
With a little imagination, it looks like a bum slide, but it's actually a smart training device for sitting on. Unlike most competitor products, the Acticore 1 is explicitly aimed at men. The idea came from a man: co-founder Hanns-Peter Cohn, who had to train his pelvic floor after an operation, developed the seat with a team of biomechanics experts from ETH Zurich, sensor specialists, medical engineers, game developers and a physiotherapist. The company is based in Basel.
When you order the Acticore, you receive an exercise bike in the form of a plastic seat that you can sit on with your clothes on. The digital personal coach Ani guides you through a performance test in the app. Depending on the results, you receive a training plan that is adjusted as you improve. Acticore can be folded up small for storage or when travelling.
The special feature: Most pelvic floor trainers can be inserted vaginally, but not anally. This makes them unsuitable for men. The Acticore is also suitable for men as it is only used externally.
For whom: Men and women who don't want to insert a device and appreciate a digital personal trainer.
Rating from the Community: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Praise from the Community: «portable, straightforward», «easy handling, entertaining games», «easy to use, also fun», «does not need to be introduced, exercises can be done with light training pants, only 6 minutes per day, design, was recommended to me by the physiotherapist»
Criticism from the Community: «Price»
2nd games with a cursor in the vagina: Perfit Care +
«Everyone is talking about» Perifit at the moment, says expert Spalding. And the Perifit Care+ is also the bestseller among the pelvic floor trainers on sale at Galaxus. The small silicone probe is 6.3 cm long and has a diameter of 2.7 cm. Women insert it vaginally. By tensing and relaxing your pelvic floor, you control one of 20 activities in the app, for example a racing car or a spaceship.
The app also records how your muscle strength improves and reminds you of your training times - ten minutes three to five times a week, the manufacturers recommend. Perifit was developed by engineers Cyril Haoudi and Artem Rodionov in France with the help of pelvic floor experts. In addition to the Care+ version, Perifit is also available in the basic version.
What's special: Offers a variety of games and new levels that can be unlocked as you improve.
For whom: Women who are motivated by games to keep going.
Community rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
Praise from the Community: «With the games it is varied and even fun», «motivates you to do bowling exercises.», «Comfortable, small», «The games are well made», «Good pelvic floor training», «Discreet», «Effective», «Direct feedback during the game on how well you can tense», «Easy to clean», «Easy to use»
Criticism from the Community: «Depending on the positioning of the device, it has slightly better or worse sensitivity», «not very environmentally friendly as you have to dispose of it when the battery runs out», «Only comes in one size»
3. the simple classic: Elvie Trainer
The Elvie Trainer already existed before Perifit and there are some parallels between the two devices: Elvie is also a smart pelvic floor trainer, the silicone probe measures 8 cm x 3.5 cm x 3.3 cm and here, too, you control games on an app and see your training progress. The game design is more relaxed and simpler than the Perifit. However, you can also increase your skills in exercises for correct tensing, relaxing and holding.
Tania Boler came up with the idea when she realised after her pregnancy that there was hardly any innovation on the market for the pelvic floor. Together with her business partner Alexander Asseily, she had the idea realised by designers and engineers in England.
The special feature: unagitated, simple game design; the device can be charged: the case is also a charger.
For whom: For women who appreciate a pelvic floor trainer with a simple app design.
Reviews from the Community: 4.2 out of 5 stars
Praise from the Community: «Good structure with the levels. Fun.», «Small and handy.», «Nice design», «Muscle building works», «Interesting games, several levels», «Improves pelvic floor quickly», «Motivating to continue»
Criticism from the Community: «... had to make a warranty claim for the 2nd time in 18 months. The problem each time is the Bluetooth connection, which keeps getting lost (even during exercises).», «battery had almost no capacity left after just one year, had to recharge every few days», «Slips during use»
Which smart pelvic floor trainers have you had good or bad experiences with? Feel free to share them in the comments.
Header image: Acticore
Ann-Kathrin Schäfer
Editor freelance
simon.balissat@digitecgalaxus.chI'm really a journalist, but in recent years I've also been working more and more as a pound cake baker, family dog trainer and expert on diggers. My heart melts when I see my children laugh with tears of joy as they fall asleep blissfully next to each other in the evening. They give me inspiration to write every day - they've also shown me the difference between a wheel loader, an asphalt paver and a bulldozer.
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