Can pelvic health physiotherapy help
For some, fecal incontinence (i.e., involuntary leakage of the contents of the bowel) is a long-term problem that can be difficult to manage with medication or with other methods of treatment like laxatives or medicines you put into your bottom (enema). Many women who suffer from this condition also have urinary incontinence and pelvic pain. These problems are often caused by damage to or weakness of the muscles that control the opening and closing of the urethra, called the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles are a group of 26 muscles that function together like a hammock across the bottom of the pelvic area, from the pubic bone in front to the tailbone in back.
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy East Sheen is an evidence-based treatment for common conditions that affect the pelvic floor muscles. Physiotherapists are trained to assess, diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses that cause the pelvic floor muscles to be weak or tight. They can teach patients exercises and other treatments to help them manage their symptoms. This may include internal palpation (feeling for tightness inside the rectum or vagina) and other techniques such as muscle-strengthening exercises, biofeedback therapy, electrical stimulation and manual myofascial release/connective tissue mobilization techniques.
During a pelvic health physiotherapy session, the physical therapist will review your medical history and discuss your symptoms and goals. She will perform a thorough physical exam, including assessing the hips, spine, bony pelvis and the pelvic floor muscles. She will then create a plan to address your specific needs. Your physical therapist will develop a program of treatment sessions, which could include exercises and stretches, biofeedback therapy and electrical stimulation to strengthen or relax your pelvic floor muscles. She will also provide education on good bladder and bowel habits, exercise and diet.
Can pelvic health physiotherapy help with bowel incontinence?
Most importantly, your physiotherapist will listen to you! Many people are afraid to talk about their bowel and bladder problems, but a pelvic health physiotherapist has the knowledge and skills to support you. She will spend time listening to your concerns and asking you many intimate questions about your bowel and bladder function, your gynecological and obstetric history, sexual function and your exercise habits.
She will also educate you on how to do pelvic floor muscle strength and relaxation exercises at home, which can be done in almost any position, although lying down tends to work best. She will instruct you in how to use a device for biofeedback therapy, which uses electrodes to monitor the contraction of your pelvic floor muscles. This allows you to watch your progress and motivates you to improve. It is important to do these exercises at least 2-3 times per day to be most effective. Your physiotherapist will teach you a variety of other treatment strategies to maintain your improvements after you finish physiotherapy. This will likely include a combination of self-treatment, regular checkups with your doctor and continued practice of the pelvic floor strengthening and stretching exercises. Some people may only need a few treatments, while others require several months of treatment to get better.
