My grandmother had a bad number 2 accident today while trying to walk to the bathroom and she wasn't able to notice until seeing the mess. She says this is the first time it had happened and as I was washing her up I noticed her buttocks seems to have no muscle mass at all.
Can anyone suggest some simple exercises that might help with this and increase muscle mass?
As a note: she has arthritis in her arms and uses two canes to walk. My girlfriend and I care for her and putting her into a nursing home is not an option.
Although you didn't ask, have you considered using a rollator for her instead of 2 canes? It would provide much more stability, and make moving around safer.
What are Kegel exercises and how are they done?
How to do Kegel Exercises
Make sure your bladder is empty, then sit or lie down.
Tighten your pelvic floor muscles. Hold tight and count 3 to 5 seconds.
Relax the muscles and count 3 to 5 seconds.
Repeat 10 times, 3 times a day (morning, afternoon, and night).
Tightening the pelvic floor is like trying to hold in pee when you have to go REALLY REALLY badly.
Good luck!
With my Mom it was coffee and apple juice that was the problem. Takinf them away helped. No sugar free candy.
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/bowel-control-problems-fecal-incontinence/treatment#:~:text=Pelvic%20floor%20muscle%20exercises%2C%20also,the%20exercises%20the%20right%20way.