What is bowel incontinence?
Bowel incontinence is involuntary loss of bowel or gas control. Loss of bowel control can occur following a strong urge to have a bowel movement and inability to make it to the bathroom on time, or as a result of poor pressure control during coughing, sneezing, laughing, jumping and impact activities.
Bowel incontinence typically occurs due to inability of the pelvic floor as muscles surrounding the anal sphincter to contract efficiently. Sometimes, this is a result to muscle spasms in the muscles surrounding the anus, and sometimes it is due to weakness in these muscles. Addressing why the leakage is there, and understanding other factors that could be playing a role such as nutrition, hormonal and mental stress is the key to resolution of symptoms.
Bowel incontinence typically occurs due to inability of the pelvic floor as muscles surrounding the anal sphincter to contract efficiently. Sometimes, this is a result to muscle spasms in the muscles surrounding the anus, and sometimes it is due to weakness in these muscles. Addressing why the leakage is there, and understanding other factors that could be playing a role such as nutrition, hormonal and mental stress is the key to resolution of symptoms.
How can pelvic floor PT help with managing symptoms of bowel incontinence?Pelvic floor therapy aims to address the weaknesses within the pelvic floor, core and hip muscles. The goal of pelvic floor therapy is to resolve symptoms through teaching you how to manage bowel urgency and manage intra-abdominal pressure increases during activities.
Pelvic floor therapists provide hand-on manual treatments, individualized exercises and discuss lifestyle modifications in order to reduce bowel leakage and allow you to improve your activity level, with little to no symptoms. |
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"Since having kids I just assumed so many of the body changes I experienced were normal. I am forever grateful for teaching me what is and is not normal and giving me the tools to fix it."
What is the Vivid difference?
At Vivid Women’s Health your Doctor of Physical Therapy will:
- Find the root cause of your symptoms.
- Address how your pelvic floor is functioning with your whole body; it isn't just Kegels.
- Treat your for one-hour with hands on treatments.
- Be with you one-on-one for the entire session; no aides or techs.
- Treat you with compassion in a private, stress free environment.