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Bowel

Do you have to strain to empty your bowel or feel like you haven't completely emptied?

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Do you suffer from constipation or irritable bowel syndrome?

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Are you embarrassed by accidentally passing wind or soiling your underwear?

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Do you have to rush to the toilet for a bowel action?

Loss of bowel control and constipation are very distressing problems that are not often talked about.  These problems can have a huge impact on your quality of life.  You may start avoiding intimacy, cease exercising, or not want to leave the house before you have used your bowels. 
 
Constipation and difficulty emptying your bowels can be painful and leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable.  Did you know that straining to empty your bowels should be avoided as it can lead to problems such as a weak pelvic floor or haemorroids?  We can teach you how!!
 
1 in 10 men experience poor bowel control so you are not alone!!  Research shows that pelvic floor physiotherapy can help with bowel control and emptying.
 

Normal pelvic floor muscles pull our bowel into a kink so we don't leak but they must also relax when we are on the toilet so our bowel is more straight and can empty more easily without straining (to avoid constipation and haemorrhoids)

Common symptoms:

  • Leaking from the bowel with activity or on the way to the toilet

  • Having to rush to the toilet because of an overwhelming urge to use your bowel

  • Accidentally passing wind

  • Having to strain to empty your bowel

  • Having to return to the toilet soon after a bowel action to go again

 
Possible causes:

  • Weak pelvic floor muscles or over-tight pelvic floor muscles

  • Pain with bowel action eg. constipation, haemorrhoids, anal fissure

  • Poor drinking or dietary habits

  • Straining to use bowels or poor toileting habits

  • Poorly managed chronic constipation

  • Chronic cough

  • Obesity

  • Strenuous sports or heavy lifting

  • Stress and anxiety

  • Ageing

  • Neurological conditions

  • Radiation therapy

 
What can be done?

  • We are specifically trained to make a thorough assessment and design a treatment program to meet your personal needs. 

  • Learn where the pelvic floor muscles are and how to use / relax them

  • Specific exercises will help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles

  • Education on how to use these muscles in your daily activities including exercise or at work

  • Advice on preventing further weakness or over-tightness of these muscles

  • Education on self managing constipation, haemorrhoids and anal fissures

  • Education on how to more effectively empty your bowel and reduce the need to strain

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