5 Signs Your Pelvic Floor Is Contributing to Constipation

Constipation can be frustrating and often affects well-being. While many individuals focus on dietary habits to manage their constipation, the role of the pelvic floor muscles is frequently overlooked. These muscles, which support the bladder and uterus organs, are essential to bowel function. Dysfunction in the pelvic floor contributes to constipation, making it necessary to identify the signs early. Pelvic floor physiotherapy in Edmonton provides targeted solutions to address these issues, helping restore proper muscle function effectively.

Understanding Constipation: Causes and Common Challenges

Constipation is one of the most widespread digestive issues, affecting people of all ages. It involves infrequent bowel movements, hard or dry stools, straining, and discomfort. While occasional constipation is usually benign, chronic constipation can impact quality of life and may indicate pelvic floor dysfunction. Understanding the root causes, common signs, and practical solutions is essential for effective management through pelvic health physiotherapy.

What Causes Constipation?

Constipation results from a variety of factors, including:

1. Dietary Factors: A diet low in fibre or inadequate hydration can make stools complex and challenging to pass.
2. Sedentary Lifestyle: Physical inactivity slows digestion, leading to sluggish bowel movements.
3. Stress and Anxiety: Psychological stress often disrupts gut motility, leading to constipation.

Common Symptoms of Constipation

1. Infrequent bowel movements (About fewer than three times a week).
2. Hard, dry, or lumpy stools.
3. Straining or difficulty passing stools.
4. The feeling of incomplete evacuation.
5. Abdominal bloating or pain.

Signs Your Pelvic Floor Address Constipation 

Recognizing the signs of pelvic floor dysfunction and incorporating targeted exercises can help alleviate constipation effectively through pelvic floor physiotherapy in Edmonton. Here are five key signs and corresponding physiotherapy-guided exercises to address them:

1. Difficulty Initiating Bowel Movements

• One common sign of pelvic floor dysfunction is difficulty initiating bowel movements, which contributes to constipation. This occurs when the pelvic floor muscles, which play a key role in facilitating stool passage, fail to relax properly. When these muscles are overly tight or lack coordination, they can create a physical block that makes starting a bowel movement challenging, often resulting in excessive straining. 
• Physiotherapists address this issue through Pelvic Floor Relaxation Techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing. This involves sitting comfortably, placing one hand on the abdomen, and taking deep breaths that allow the belly to expand fully on inhalation and contract during exhalation. 
• This practice encourages the pelvic floor muscles to relax, making it easier for stool to pass through the rectum without undue strain.

2. Feeling of Incomplete Evacuation

• The sensation of not fully emptying the bowels after a movement is another clear sign of pelvic floor dysfunction. This occurs when the pelvic floor muscles do not fully relax, creating resistance that prevents complete stool evacuation. 
• This ongoing issue can be frustrating and lead to additional discomfort. A common physiotherapy intervention for this issue is Pelvic Tilts, which focus on improving pelvic alignment and coordination. Patients perform pelvic tilts by lying on their backs with their knees bent. They tighten their abdominal muscles and gently tilt the pelvis upward, holding the position momentarily before returning to neutral. 
• This movement helps activate and coordinate the pelvic floor muscles, facilitating smoother and more complete bowel evacuation.

3. Pain in the Pelvic or Rectal Area

• Persistent pain in the pelvic or rectal area, especially during or after bowel movements, is often indicative of pelvic floor tension. Overly tight or misaligned pelvic floor muscles, as seen in conditions like pelvic floor tension myalgia, can cause significant discomfort. This pain affects bowel function and can interfere with overall quality of life. 
• Physiotherapists use Manual Therapy Techniques, such as myofascial release, to alleviate this tension. In this hands-on approach, the therapist applies gentle, sustained pressure to specific tight areas in the pelvic region, improving blood flow, reducing muscle tension, and restoring proper muscle function. 
• This therapy alleviates pain and improves the overall relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles.

4. Irregular Bowel Habits

• Irregular bowel habits, such as alternating between constipation and diarrhea or experiencing unpredictable bowel movements, can result from poor coordination of the pelvic floor muscles. These irregularities often occur when the muscles fail to synchronize with the rest of the bowel function system, leading to inconsistent stool passage. 
• To address this, physiotherapists prescribe exercises like bridges, strengthening the glutes, core, and pelvic floor muscles. This exercise involves lying on the back with knees bent, lifting the hip towards the ceiling while engaging the glutes and pelvic floor, and lowering back down. 
• This helps build muscle strength and coordination, enabling more predictable and regular bowel patterns.

5. The Need for Physical Assistance During Bowel Movements

• Relying on physical assistance, such as pressing on the abdomen or using a finger to aid stool passage, is a sign of dysfunctional pelvic floor muscles. This condition, often called splinting, occurs when the muscles are too tight or lack proper coordination, preventing natural stool passage. 
• Physiotherapists recommend Squats to help address this issue. Squats, performed with proper form—standing with feet shoulder-width apart and lowering into a squat position while maintaining a straight back and engaged pelvic floor—strengthen and align the pelvic muscles. 
• This helps the body regain natural bowel movement patterns, reducing or eliminating the need for physical assistance.

By understanding these signs and incorporating targeted physiotherapy exercises and techniques, individuals can improve pelvic floor function and alleviate constipation. A pelvic health physiotherapist provides personalized care, ensuring that exercises and interventions are tailored to individual needs for optimal results. Seeking timely intervention can significantly improve bowel health and overall well-being.

The Role of Diet in Constipation Relief Management

A high-fiber diet and adequate hydration are critical for softening stool and promoting regularity. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables provide the necessary bulk for stool passage. Additionally, drinking plenty of water helps stool retain moisture, making it easier to pass.

Quick Tip: Aim for 25–30 grams of fibre daily, and drink at least 8–10 glasses of water.

Break Free from Constipation with Our Care

Pelvic dysfunction is a common but often overlooked cause of constipation. Identifying the signs early and seeking help from a physiotherapist can significantly restore normal bowel function and improve the overall quality of life through physiotherapy in Edmonton. Vertex Physiotherapy Clinic offers personalized treatments for constipation and related issues through women’s health physiotherapy. Don’t let constipation hold you back, and we have the solution through female pelvic floor physiotherapy. Connect with our Vertex Physiotherapy Clinic today to regain comfort, confidence, and control over your bowel health!

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