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Bowel Problems

Bowel problems 

Your pelvic floor plays a crucial role in bowel function. When these muscles are weak, tight, or uncoordinated, they can contribute to issues like constipation, faecal incontinence, and pain. Pelvic floor physiotherapy offers effective, non-invasive treatments to help restore proper function and improve your quality of life.

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Chronic Constipation

  • Difficulty passing stools or feeling like you haven’t fully emptied

  • Straining or experiencing pain during bowel movements

  • Hard or infrequent stools

  • 2 or less bowel motions per week

  • 3 times more common in women

  • May also increase urinary frequency and sometimes contribute to urinary incontinence

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Obstructed Defecation

  • Incomplete bowel emptying 

  • May strain to empty

  • Stool can be soft or hard

  • Sensation of stool ‘getting stuck’ can be due to rectocele or rectal prolapse or inadequate relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles during defecation

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Faecal Incontinence

  • Involuntary leakage of stool 

  • Urgency or difficulty controlling bowel movements

  • Soiling without sensation or warning or difficulty wiping clean

How can Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy help with Constipation and Obstructed Defecation?

  • Pelvic floor muscle relaxation techniques

  • Breathing and coordination exercises to support easier bowel movements

  • Teaching correct bowel emptying dynamics

  • Adequate fluid intake

  • Lifestyle and dietary recommendations to improve your stool consistency (may need to see a dietitian to help you with fibre intake and a pharmacist to assist with appropriate stool softener or laxative)

How can Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy help with Faecal Incontinence?

  • Pelvic floor muscle strengthening program to help you manage the urgency, leakage and soiling

  • Lifestyle and dietary recommendations to improve your stool consistency (may need to see a dietitian to help you with fibre intake and a pharmacist to assist with fibre supplements to bulk up the stool if too loose)

FAQS

How can pelvic floor physiotherapy help me?

  • Pelvic floor muscle training
    Pelvic floor muscle training for 4-6 months is the first line treatment for UI with the focus to build strength, endurance, speed and coordination of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in different situations. Long-term adherence to the exercise program is the key to optimal success!
  • Bladder training for OAB
    Bladder training for OAB which is more than just ‘hanging on’. It involves learning to switch on the neural control of the bladder and engage your PFM to prevent urinary leakage.
  • Fluid Management
    Advice on fluid management and education on lifestyle modifications
  • Manage bowel problems
    Manage bowel problems such as constipation if it is also one of the complaints as it disturbs the activation of pelvic floor muscles if the rectum is full!

There is a lot that can be done to manage incontinence. Don’t dismiss it. It’s never ‘too small to worry about’ because small problems can get bigger! Incontinence is NEVER NORMAL!

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Talk to your GP or pelvic floor physiotherapist to help you improve or cure your incontinence.
 

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