The Clinical Studies Behind the #1 Kegel App for Men
Most kegel apps tell you to "squeeze and hold" and call it a day. Some show animated bar charts with a tiny asterisk that reads "survey data" - their own survey, not independent research.
Kegel King is built differently. Every workout protocol, every progression, and every exercise timing in the app traces back to named, peer-reviewed clinical studies. Here's exactly what those studies found and how they shaped the training you get.
The PE Study: Pastore et al., 2014
The foundational study for premature ejaculation training comes from Pastore, Palleschi, and colleagues, published in Therapeutic Advances in Urology in 2014.
They recruited 40 men with lifelong premature ejaculation and put them through a 12-week structured pelvic floor rehabilitation program. The results were hard to ignore.
Before training, the average ejaculatory latency was 31.7 seconds. After 12 weeks, that number rose to 146.2 seconds. That's roughly a 4x improvement. 82.5% of participants - 33 of 40 men - gained what the researchers classified as ejaculatory control.
A follow-up study by the same team (Pastore et al., 2018, Asian Journal of Andrology) tracked 122 men and confirmed the pattern. 90.2% improved after 12 weeks, and 56.8% still maintained their results at the 36-month follow-up.
The critical finding most apps miss: the Pastore protocol didn't just have men squeezing harder. The key mechanism was teaching men to consciously relax their pelvic floor - what's commonly called a reverse kegel. This is why Kegel King includes reverse kegels from Day 1, not weeks into the program.
The ED Study: Dorey et al., 2005
For erectile dysfunction, the landmark study comes from Dorey, Speakman, Feneley, and colleagues, published in BJU International in 2005.
They ran a randomized controlled trial with 55 men diagnosed with ED. The treatment group followed a structured pelvic floor exercise program. After three months, 40% of men in the exercise group fully recovered erectile function. Another 35.5% showed significant improvement.
To put that in perspective, those results are comparable to the initial response rates of popular ED medications - without the side effects, recurring costs, or prescriptions.
The Dorey protocol emphasized progressive hold durations and consistent daily practice. Kegel King's hold timing progression across 25 levels is derived from the parameters in this study.
The Muscle Identification Study: Ben Ami et al., 2022
One of the biggest barriers to effective kegel training is knowing if you're activating the right muscles. Ben Ami, Feldman, and Dar tackled this directly in a 2022 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
They tested six different verbal instructions on 35 men using real-time ultrasound imaging to see which cues actually activated the correct muscles.
| Instruction | Correct Activation Rate |
|---|---|
| "Squeeze as if preventing gas" | 91%+ |
| "Try to shorten your penis" | 91%+ |
| "Elevate your scrotum" | 91%+ |
| "Draw in your belly button" | 25% |
If you've been told to "pull up" or "draw in your core" - there's a 75% chance you've been training the wrong muscles entirely. Kegel King's audio cues use the clinically validated instructions from this study. During workouts, Dr. James (the app's expert voice guide) uses "contract" rather than "squeeze" because squeezing triggers abdominal tensing in many men.
Kegel King's protocols are derived from the studies above - not generic timers or guesswork. Reverse kegels from Day 1, clinically validated cues, 25-level progression.
Try Kegel King FreeThe EMG Confirmation: Stafford et al., 2015
A separate EMG study by Stafford and colleagues (2015, Neurourology and Urodynamics) confirmed that the "shorten the penis" cue produces the best activation of the striated urethral sphincter - the specific muscle that matters most for both ejaculatory control and urinary continence.
This study is why Kegel King's Find Your Muscles tutorial walks you through multiple cue methods rather than just one.
The Strength vs. Control Finding: Lyu et al., 2025
A recent study by Lyu and colleagues (2025) found something that contradicts common assumptions. They measured no significant difference in pelvic floor muscle strength between men with PE and healthy controls.
The implication is that PE isn't a strength problem - it's a control problem. Training needs to build both strength and the ability to consciously relax, not just squeeze harder. This is why Kegel King's training protocols include standard kegels, reverse kegels, quick flicks (pulse exercises), and alternating contractions rather than just one exercise type.
Why This Matters for the App You Choose
Any kegel app can put a timer on screen. The question is whether the timing, progression, exercise selection, and cue language are grounded in something real.
When you see Kegel King cite "Dorey et al., 2005" or "Pastore et al., 2014," those are specific researchers, specific journals, and specific findings you can look up yourself. That transparency is the difference between evidence-based training and a glorified stopwatch.
For the complete exercise protocol, read our complete guide to kegel exercises for men. For goal-specific guidance, see our articles on kegels for PE or kegels for ED.
Frequently Asked Questions
This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Exercise protocols are derived from published clinical research (Pastore et al., 2014, 2018; Dorey et al., 2005; Ben Ami et al., 2022; Stafford et al., 2015; Lyu et al., 2025). Consult a healthcare provider before starting any exercise program.