Bowel problems are more common than you think but most people will suffer in silence. In many cases, your problem can be managed or cured with some expert help.
What is normal bowel function?
Having healthy bowel habits means generally you will have well-formed soft and easily passed bowel motions anywhere from between 1-3 times per day to 3 times per week. This is considered regular. You should be able to hold on for a short time, do a poo within a short time of sitting on the toilet, without straining or pain and be able to empty.
Signs and symptoms of bowel problems?
- Do you find yourself straining on the toilet or not feeling completely empty after doing a poo?’
- Do you find yourself not emptying your bowels regularly and you feel sluggish, bloated or constipated?
- Do you frequently have an urgency to poo or struggle to hold on to your wind or poo?
- Do you ever accidentally leak out poo or find that you have a poo accident on an urge?
- Do you find you have soiling on undies within an hour of your last empty?
Common causes of bowel problems?
- Constipation
- Ineffective stool emptying position and pushing technique
- Weak or overactive pelvic floor muscles and anal sphincter
- Pasty Poos - often cause excessive wiping and soiling within an hour of emptying
- Poor Diet / Insufficient fluid intake
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Chron’s and Colitis
How can we help?
Physiotherapy for bowel problems?
Our goal in managing your bowel dysfunction is to address why your problem is occurring.
This may include:
- Constipation management
- Bowel retraining, ie sitting on the toilet at a regular time each day
- Teaching you how to poo correctly
- Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles so you can hold long enough to reach the toilet in time
- Relaxing your pelvic floor muscles if you have difficulty emptying or releasing wind
- Urge delay retraining of your bowels
- Real-time Ultrasound of the bowel to get an indication of the transit through the whole large intestine
- Working with you to get your stool to the perfect consistency that it slides out without effort and or skiddies
Related Blogs
Pelvic Health Is for Everyone Pelvic health is often talked about as a women’s issue, but in reality it affects people of all genders across every stage of life. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues that support the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. These muscles also play a role in sexual function and everyday movements like lifting, bending, coughing, or laughing. Because they are involved in so many aspects of daily life, looking after pelvic health is important for everyone. Pelvic health concerns can show up in many different ways. Some people experience bladder leakage, urgency, constipation, or changes in bowel habits. Others may experience pelvic girdle pain, including discomfort around the sacroiliac joints, pubic symphysis, or coccyx (tailbone). Pelvic pain can also occur in the lower abdomen or in the genitals and may affect comfort with sitting, exercise, or sexual activity. These symptoms can affect people of any gender, yet they are often not openly discussed. Pelvic floor challenges can appear at different stages of life. Children may experience constipation, bedwetting, or daytime bladder accidents. Adolescents and adults may notice pelvic pain, bladder urgency, or bowel changes. Men may experience pelvic pain or bladder symptoms, including leakage, particularly after prostate surgery. Older adults may notice changes in bladder or bowel control or pelvic comfort as the body changes with age. While these experiences are common, many people are surprised to learn that help is available. Hormones also play an important role in pelvic health for people of all genders. Changes in hormone levels; during puberty, pregnancy, menopause, or as part of gender-affirming hormone therapy, can influence tissue health, bladder control, sexual function, and comfort in the pelvic region. Understanding these changes and supporting the body with the right care can make a meaningful difference. Pelvic health physiotherapy offers practical support, education, and treatment for many of these concerns. Physiotherapists can help people better understand their pelvic floor, improve bladder and bowel habits, manage pelvic girdle or pelvic pain, and support comfortable movement in daily life. Often, small changes can make a big difference to daily comfort and confidence. Pelvic health isn’t limited to one gender or one stage of life. By talking about it more openly and recognising the many ways it can affect the body, we can make it easier for everyone to seek support and care for their pelvic health.
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Yes! Penis owners have a pelvic floor too.
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