Bowel Dysfunction

Bowel issues can be embarrassing to talk about but in pelvic floor physical therapy, there’s no such thing as “TMI”! Here are some of the bowel problems our patients come in to see us for:

• Constipation: infrequent or difficult bowel movements, straining to poop

• Anal or Rectal Pain

• Hemorrhoids

• Anal Fissures: a small crack or tear in the lining of the anus causing pain and/or bleeding with bowel movements

• Problems Emptying Bowels

• Painful Bowel Movements

• Bowel Leakage/Fecal Incontinence or Smearing

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

• Rectal Prolapse: the rectum turns inside out and protrudes through the anus

• Rectocele: the rectum bulges into the vaginal wall, creating a “bulge” in the vagina. It can cause difficulty emptying stool and some people have to “splint” to empty - inserting a finger in the vagina and pushing backward against the back vaginal wall.

Treatments vary depending on your individual symptoms and goals but often include bowel health education, manual therapy, self-management strategies, breathing and relaxation exercises, strength/endurance exercises, education, and/or nervous system regulation training.

Learn More: Bowel Health Tips and Tricks