How Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Can Relieve Constipation

Constipation is a common condition, affecting many people in the world. It can cause discomfort, pain and frustration. Despite many people wanting to treat constipation with diet change or medication, they may not realize pelvic floor musculature may be part of the problem. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a very effective way to manage and treat constipation, especially if it is a muscle problem.

we’ll explain what the pelvic floor is, how it relates to constipation, and how Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy in Surrey can help you feel better.

Table of Contents

What Is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles located at the bottom of your pelvis. These muscles support your bladder, bowel, and in women, the uterus. They help control when you go to the toilet and help push out waste when you do.

When these muscles work properly, they tighten and relax as needed. But when they are too tight, too weak, or not working well, it can lead to problems like constipation, urine leaks, and pelvic pain.

What Is Constipation?

Constipation means you have difficulty passing stool or don’t go to the toilet as often as you should. Some signs of constipation include:

Passing stool less than 3 times a week
Hard, dry, or lumpy stools
Straining when trying to go
A feeling that you still need to go, even after using the toilet
A feeling of blockage in the rectum

Constipation can be short-term (for a few days) or long-term (chronic), and it can affect your daily life and comfort.

How the Pelvic Floor Affects Constipation

A lot of people don’t understand that their pelvic floor muscles help them to go to the bathroom. When you need to use the toilet, your pelvic floor muscles need to relax to allow stool to pass out of your body. If your pelvic floor muscles are tight or don’t properly relax, this can make it hard to go.

This problem is known as pelvic floor dysfunction. It often leads to a type of constipation called dyssynergic defecation, which means the muscles are not working together properly during a bowel movement.

Common Pelvic Floor Issues That Cause Constipation

Here are some common pelvic floor problems linked to constipation:

Tight or Overactive Pelvic Floor Muscles
Some people have muscles that stay tight all the time. These muscles do not relax when they should, which makes it hard to pass stool.
Poor Coordination
The muscles may push the wrong way or not relax at the right time during a bowel movement. This causes straining and incomplete emptying.
Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles
If the muscles are too weak, they can’t help move the stool out. This can make it harder to empty the bowels fully.

What Is Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a special type of physiotherapy that focuses on the muscles in your pelvic area. A trained pelvic floor physiotherapist helps you learn how to:

Relax tight muscles
Strengthen weak muscles
Improve coordination during bowel movements
Use breathing and posture to help with bowel health

If you are in British Columbia, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy in Surrey offers safe and professional support to help you manage constipation naturally and effectively.

How Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Helps with Constipation

Here are some ways pelvic floor physiotherapy can help relieve constipation:

1. Muscle Assessment and Training

A physiotherapist checks your pelvic floor muscles to see if they are tight, weak, or uncoordinated. Then, they teach you exercises that are made just for your body’s needs.

For example:

If your muscles are tight, they teach you how to relax them.
If your muscles are weak, they teach you how to strengthen them.
If your muscles are not working together, they teach you how to coordinate them.

2. Biofeedback Therapy

This is a special tool used by many pelvic physiotherapists. It helps you see how your pelvic floor muscles are working using sensors. It shows if you are relaxing or tightening them the right way. This gives you real-time feedback, so you can learn to control your muscles better.

3. Breathing and Posture Training

Your breathing and posture play a big role in how your bowels work. A physiotherapist teaches you how to breathe deeply using your belly and how to sit in the best position to go to the toilet. This helps you pass stool more easily without straining.

4. Bowel Movement Techniques

You’ll learn the best way to sit on the toilet, when to go, and how to push without harming your body. These small changes can make a big difference in how easy and comfortable it is to go to the toilet.

5. Lifestyle and Diet Advice

Although physiotherapists focus on muscles, many also provide advice on:

Eating more fiber
Drinking enough water
Keeping a regular toilet schedule
Staying active

These simple habits can improve bowel health and make therapy more effective.

Who Should See a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist for Constipation?

You may benefit from Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy in Surrey if:

You have had constipation for many weeks or months
You strain often or feel like you can’t fully empty your bowels
You feel pressure or pain in your pelvic area when trying to go
Medicines and diet changes have not helped much
You want a natural way to manage constipation without long-term use of laxatives

What to Expect at Your First Visit

At your first pelvic floor physiotherapy visit, the physiotherapist will:

Ask about your symptoms – how often you go to the toilet, what your stool looks like, how it feels, and any other health problems.
Check your posture and breathing – to see how they affect your bowel movements.
Do a physical exam – sometimes, this includes checking your pelvic muscles (this is done with your permission and in a private, respectful way).
Create a plan – with exercises, stretches, and tips to improve your symptoms.

The goal is to help you understand your body and take steps to improve your bowel health.

Benefits of Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Constipation

Better muscle control
Less straining
Easier and more complete bowel movements
Reduced bloating and pain
Fewer laxatives or stool softeners
Improved quality of life

Many people see positive changes after just a few sessions, and the results last when they follow the advice and exercises at home.

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Surrey: Help Is Close to Home

If you live in or around Surrey, BC, and have a continuing problem with bowel habits and constipation, you don’t have to deal with it alone. Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy in Surrey can provide safe, private, and professional care in an environment that assists your muscle function and digestion naturally.

We get it. Discussing bowel problems can be uncomfortable, but we promise to help you without judgment. We keep our focus on simple exercises, healthy habits, and individualized care where your comfort is paramount.

Final Thoughts

There are several things that can cause constipation, but it well could be that your unpleasantness is hiding in the pelvic floor muscles. If you have exhausted other treatments and still feel you are stuck it might be time to consider Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy.

To get the best help for the situation you are in where your pelvic floor muscles may be, you can retrain those muscles, have better bowel movements, and feel better. If you are in Surrey, reach out to a reputable clinic that provides Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy in Surrey and take the first step towards better digestion and a better quality of life.