Constipation:

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints in the US. Although diet and lifestyle factors play a significant role in constipation management, the function of the muscles and nerves in the pelvis can play a pivotal role as well. Constipation can include increased time between bowel movements, decreased urge to have a bowel movement, feelings of incomplete emptying, large, dry, and difficult to pass stools. It is not uncommon for a client to experience diarrhea at times in response to chronic or extreme constipation.

How physical therapy can help:

Physical therapy can address the function of the nerves and muscles of the pelvis and assess and improve the mechanics used to pass stool. Oftentimes patients are using compensatory strategies, sub optimal breathing strategies, and holding patterns which have been exacerbated by pain in the past. Dyssynergia of the pelvic floor muscles can lead to and contribute to constipation. Physical therapy can train the muscles to work in the correct way once again.

Painful Bowel Movements:

Pain during or after a bowel movement is not normal. Pain can lead to or exacerbate constipation and other impairments within the pelvic bowl.

How Physical Therapy Can Help:

Physical therapy can help by restoring balance to the muscles, nerves and surrounding structures within the abdomen and the pelvis. As with any pain condition retraining the nervous system is an integral part of the treatment process.

Fecal Incontinence:

The involuntary leakage of stool like urinary incontinence is more common than you may think and can occur at any point during the life cycle. Fecal leakage can be activity driven, structural, neurological, behavioral, gastrointestinal or most commonly a combination of the above.

How Physical Therapy Can Help:

A physical therapist can assess each of these factors separately, conclude how they are all working together, and restore balance to improve control and decrease episodes of fecal incontinence.

Incomplete Bowel Movements:

Incomplete evacuation of stool. Common symptoms include feeling like the “door closes too fast” limiting the complete evacuation, fecal smearing and excessive wiping, feelings of pressure and being uncomfortable that continue until another bowel movement is evacuated. A diagnosis of pelvic floor dyssynergia or dyssynergic defecation is very common when treating patients with incomplete bowel movements.

How physical therapy Can help:

The physical therapist will look at the pelvic floor muscles, nerves, and mechanics of defecation. Often incomplete evacuation can have tension patterns, sub optimal breathing and evacuation strategies which can be addressed through physical therapy intervention and biofeedback.