Constipation can be frustrating, uncomfortable, and exhausting to deal with, especially when it becomes part of your everyday life. For many people, the first step is to change their diet or increase fibre and fluid intake. But what happens when those changes don’t make a difference?
In some cases, constipation isn’t just about what you’re eating. It might have more to do with how your pelvic floor is working.
Is your pelvic floor contributing to constipation?
It’s not always easy to tell, but here are a few signs that your constipation could be related to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction rather than diet alone:
- You’ve tried increasing fibre and fluid but still experience straining or difficulty passing a bowel motion
- You’ve noticed bladder urgency or struggle to hold in wind
- Intercourse is painful
- You regularly experience deep, low back discomfort
- You often feel like you haven’t fully emptied your bowel
These symptoms can point to overactive or tight pelvic floor muscles, which can restrict the bowel and make it harder to go (something we refer to as obstructed defaecation).
How the pelvic floor affects bowel motions
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support your pelvic organs, including the bowel. To pass a bowel motion effectively, these muscles need to be able to relax and contract in coordination with other muscle activity.
When this process doesn’t happen the way it should, things can feel stuck or difficult to move, no matter how healthy your diet is.
Can straining to poop affect my pelvic health long-term?
Chronic straining and ongoing constipation can increase downward pressure through the pelvis, impacting your pelvic organs, muscles, and the tissue that supports them.
Over time, this pressure can contribute to symptoms like:
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Bowel or bladder leakage
- Heaviness or dragging sensations in the pelvis
- Difficulty with emptying or holding
The earlier we can identify what’s contributing, the more options there are for easing symptoms and preventing longer-term issues.
How to ease constipation with physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can offer support for bowel issues, without relying solely on medication or dietary changes.
Your physio will:
- Take the time to understand your symptoms and history
- Ask about your bowel routine, lifestyle, posture, and movement
- Assess how your pelvic floor is functioning, including strength, coordination, and your ability to relax
- Check posture, mobility, and pelvic organ movement
- Help you understand the way your pelvic floor and abdomen work together
- Create a tailored plan to support your bowel health in a way that fits your life
Treatment may include positioning techniques, breathwork, muscle relaxation, gentle pelvic floor retraining, and guidance on how to reduce straining.
If you’re struggling with constipation, support is available
Constipation doesn’t always mean you need to “try harder” with fibre, water, or strain; it might mean your pelvic floor needs a different kind of support.
If bowel motions have become something you dread or work around, you don’t have to continue managing on your own.
Book an appointment with North West Healthy Women today.
