And suddenly, the strange object in my girlfriend’s room didn’t seem quite so mysterious.
But understanding what it is raises another question:
**Why would someone need one?**
## The Strange Device That Looks Like Something Else
One reason these gadgets confuse people is their unusual design.
Traditional exercise equipment is easy to recognize.
Dumbbells look like dumbbells.
Resistance bands look like resistance bands.
Yoga mats look like yoga mats.
But pelvic-floor and inner-thigh trainers can look surprisingly unfamiliar.
The device in the photograph has a central body with curved padding and resistance components extending outward.
Depending on the exact model, the user may position it between the thighs and apply pressure against resistance.
Some similar products are marketed as adjustable resistance trainers for the inner thighs and pelvic-floor muscles.
That means the object isn’t necessarily something mysterious or embarrassing.
It may simply be a piece of home exercise equipment.
## What Is a Pelvic-Floor Trainer?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles located at the bottom of the pelvis.
These muscles help support structures in the pelvic region and play an important role in bladder and bowel control.
Pelvic-floor muscle training is commonly associated with exercises often called **Kegel exercises**.
Traditional Kegel exercises don’t require any equipment.
A person can perform them by consciously contracting and relaxing the pelvic-floor muscles.
However, various devices have been developed to provide resistance, feedback, or assistance during training.
Some are electronic.
Some use resistance mechanisms.
Others combine pelvic-floor exercises with inner-thigh or leg training.
The device in the photograph appears to belong to that broader category of resistance-based exercise equipment rather than being a conventional medical instrument.
## Why Would Someone Want to Strengthen These Muscles?
