Our digestive health is closely linked with overall general health but can be a delicate balance that can be easily upset. Subsequent bowel dysfunction or digestive health issues can be extremely distressing and affect your everyday life.
Bowel dysfunction includes constipation, obstructive defecation (difficulty emptying your bowel) and faecal incontinence (loss of control of wind or poo and/or problems getting completely clean). Other symptoms may include bloating, wind, abdominal pain or a loose, overactive bowel.
There are many potential contributing factors to digestive health issues and bowel disfunction. These may include traumatic births, OASI tears, changes in hormones, stress, surgery and conditions like IBS, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and pelvic organ prolapse.
Your physiotherapy assessment will be a thorough check of physical, emotional and lifestyle factors that can affect bowel habits. It may include both an internal vaginal and rectal exam but this is optional and will be fully discussed with you at the assessment. A personalised treatment plan may include pelvic floor exercises and lifestyle changes to improve gut health, stool consistency and bowel function. You may be recommended to see some of the other practitioners at The Mummy Hub as optimal digestive health often requires a holistic approach.
