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Pelvic floor physiotherapy for bowel problems in Adelaide

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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1

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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2

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?

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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