Services

Bowel

What is fecal incontinence?

It’s usually spoken of like this:

“I fart all the time and can’t control it. Poop comes out before I can even get to the bathroom. I have to wear a heavy pad/diaper because I can’t control my bowels. It’s hard to wipe myself completely, then I end up with smears on my underwear. I'm too embarrassed to talk to anyone about it, it's terrible.”

Fecal incontinence is the involuntary loss of gas, liquid stool and/or solid feces. It’s a problem that often occurs after traumatic deliveries, especially with Grade III or IV tears or forceps use. Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic diarrhea, and other digestive tract problems can also result in fecal incontinence.

How can pelvic physical therapy help you with fecal incontinence?

Treatment options include:

• External and/or internal pelvic floor evaluation to assess muscle function, tone, sensory awareness, coordination and strength

• Specific pelvic floor treatments which will include strengthening when you are able to selectively isolate the pelvic floor muscles. The traditional Kegel exercise has a place but there is much more to the pelvic floor—and about 50% of women do Kegels the wrong way! We will design a program based on your own function and functional needs.

• Biofeedback may be helpful to help you see what your muscles are doing as you work to improve their function

• Bowel training that starts with completing a a bowel/bladder diary, and education in what is normal

• Manual therapy hands on treatment focused on improving the mobility of your soft tissue and the alignment and mobility of your joints

• Referral to another professional. I’ll work with my network of providers—physicians, naturopaths, Chinese medicine practitioners, psychotherapists, nutritionists and others—to help you find the resources which will help you improve your function.