Bowel Problems

Pelvic Health Physiotherapy for Bowel Dysfunction

Bowel problems can have a significant impact on daily life, confidence, comfort, and wellbeing.

Many women feel embarrassed talking about constipation, bowel leakage, difficulty emptying, or pelvic pressure, but these symptoms are far more common than most people realise—and they are often treatable.

At Alpine Physiotherapy, our Women’s Health Physiotherapists provide compassionate, evidence-based assessment and treatment for a range of bowel and pelvic floor conditions. We help identify the factors contributing to your symptoms and create a personalised plan to improve bowel function and quality of life.

How the Pelvic Floor Affects Bowel Function

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that sits at the base of the pelvis, supporting the bladder, uterus, and bowel.

These muscles play an important role in:

• Maintaining bowel continence

• Allowing stool to pass effectively

• Supporting the pelvic organs

• Coordinating with the abdominal muscles and breathing

• Managing pressure during lifting, exercise, and daily activities

When the pelvic floor is too weak, too tight, poorly coordinated, or affected by pain, bowel symptoms can develop.

Bowel Leakage (Faecal Incontinence)

Bowel leakage can range from difficulty controlling gas through to leakage of stool.

This may occur:

• After childbirth
• Following pelvic surgery
• With pelvic floor weakness
• After certain injuries
• As part of pelvic organ prolapse
• With some neurological conditions

Although it can feel distressing and isolating, bowel leakage is often treatable, and many women experience significant improvement with pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Difficulty Emptying the Bowels

Some women feel they cannot fully empty their bowels despite having the urge to go.

This may be associated with:

• Pelvic floor muscle tension
• Rectocele (posterior vaginal wall prolapse)
• Poor coordination of the pelvic floor
• Chronic straining
• Pelvic pain conditions

Assessment helps determine whether muscles, support structures, or bowel habits are contributing to the problem.

Rectocele & Posterior Vaginal Wall Prolapse

A rectocele occurs when the wall between the rectum and vagina weakens, allowing the rectum to bulge into the vagina.

Women may notice:

• A vaginal bulge
• Difficulty emptying the bowel
• The need to strain
• A feeling of blockage during bowel motions
• Pelvic heaviness

Pelvic health physiotherapy can help improve symptoms, reduce straining, and teach strategies to support bowel emptying.

Ano-Rectal Pain Disorders

Pain around the anus or rectum is often related to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.

Conditions may include:

• Levator ani syndrome
• Proctalgia fugax
• Pelvic floor muscle spasm
• Pain during or after bowel motions
• Tailbone (coccyx) pain

Treatment focuses on reducing muscle tension, improving relaxation, and restoring normal pelvic floor function.

How Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Can Help

Your Women’s Health Physiotherapist will complete a thorough assessment to understand what is contributing to your symptoms.

This may include:

• Detailed bowel history
• Toilet habits and stool consistency
• Pelvic floor muscle assessment (with your consent)
• Assessment of abdominal and core muscles
• Breathing patterns
• Hip, pelvis and lower back assessment
• Review of exercise, lifting, and daily activities

Treatment may include:

• Pelvic floor muscle training
• Pelvic floor relaxation techniques
• Breathing retraining
• Bowel emptying strategies
• Constipation management
• Scar tissue management
• Core rehabilitation
• Postural and movement advice
• Exercise guidance
• Education to reduce straining and pelvic pressure

Bowel Problems After Childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth can place significant stress on the pelvic floor.

Women may experience:

• Constipation
• Difficulty controlling gas
• Bowel leakage
• Pelvic heaviness
• Pain with bowel motions
• Rectocele symptoms

Early assessment can help identify issues before they become long-term problems and support recovery after birth.