You know the feeling of constipation: a swollen, bloated belly, pressure or lower abdominal pain, and a creeping concern that you haven’t had a bowel movement in days. If these symptoms sound familiar, you’re not alone.
Constipation is a common health complaint, affecting around 16% of adults and a third of people aged 60 or older. Most of the time, constipation is temporary.
However, if you are experiencing painful chronic constipation, you should talk to your doctor at Maiden Lane Medical and ask about pelvic floor physical therapy for constipation. Our office is conveniently located in Manhattan, NY, and we are ready to help you find relief.
What Is Constipation?
The clinical definition of constipation is when you have fewer than three bowel movements per week. Other signs of constipation include difficulty passing hard, dry, lumpy stools and feeling like your bowel movement isn’t complete.
Constipation occurs when solid waste products move slowly through your colon. It can be caused by delayed emptying due to pelvic floor disorders like pelvic floor dyssynergia or functional gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome. If your condition is caused by one of these issues, physical therapy for constipation could be an effective solution.
Ways to Relieve Constipation
The pelvic floor physical therapists at Maiden Lane Medical offer personalized treatment programs to help improve the function of your lower digestive tract, including bowel motility. Some of the potential therapies include the following:
Visceral Mobilization
Palpation of the colon and some “visceral mobilization,” which feels like an abdominal massage with some simple movements of the pelvis and legs, can often elicit some gurgling and signs of movement in the right direction. Evidence shows that abdominal massage of the ascending, transverse, and descending colons would help decrease abdominal spasticity and assist the bowel in peristalsis movement.
Your trained physical therapist can teach you exercises and self-massage movements to practice at home. You might also try some inversion, propping the buttocks higher than the head, and side-lying positions that make use of gravity to help get things moving.
Biofeedback
People who always strain and have difficulty fully emptying their bowels usually contract and tighten the external anal sphincter rather than relax and open it during defecation. Biofeedback assessment of the pelvic floor can help to assess whether there is an outlet problem due to high tension in the pelvic muscles and external sphincter.
A pelvic floor physical therapist could help the patients regain the ability to relax external anal muscles while contacting abdominal muscles to assist stool propulsion.
A review of the importance of fluids and oils in the diet to help lubricate the passage of an “easy” bowel movement, along with the addition of dietary fiber, such as salads, fruits, and vegetables, and the avoidance of heavy carbs. Imagine the image of a bagel stuck in the colon as an example compared to yogurt sliding through the colon.
Supplements
You might also benefit from adding magnesium and vitamin C supplements to your daily routine. These supplements can act as stool softeners and help keep you regular.
Elimination Diet
An elimination diet can help ease digestive problems, but it can be daunting to try and figure out where to start. An appointment with a dietician can help you sort through your meal plan and can help you avoid feeling that you have to give up everything you love to eat.
Exercise
Getting regular, moderate physical activity, such as walking 30 minutes a day, can help get things moving. Daily movement and a few simple exercises help combat all the sitting in today’s world, contributing to slow-moving digestion.
Relaxation
Stress and tension can definitely play a part in constipation. After all, who doesn’t get constipated after a travel day? Thus, learning and practicing some relaxation exercises can be extremely helpful in relieving that tension so you can stay regular.
Diaphragmatic breathing could facilitate the activation of the parasympathetic system, which encourages the body to relax and stay in the “rest and digest” state. A trained pelvic floor physical therapist could teach the patient how to use diaphragmatic breathing to improve pelvic floor muscle awareness and massage internal organs, like the intestine and stomach.
The pelvic floor physical therapists at Maiden Lane Medical recommend a 25-minute relaxation program called Physiological Quieting. Pelvic physical therapist guru, Janet Hulme, created the program, which she provides for free with a Prime Membership on Amazon. Practice relaxation before bedtime for a wonderful deep sleep and an easy bowel movement in the morning.
You know the feeling of constipation: a swollen, bloated belly, pressure or lower abdominal pain, and a creeping concern that you haven’t had a bowel movement in days. If these symptoms sound familiar, you’re not alone.
Constipation is a common health complaint, affecting around 16% of adults and a third of people aged 60 or older. Most of the time, constipation is temporary.
However, if you are experiencing painful chronic constipation, you should talk to your doctor at Maiden Lane Medical and ask about pelvic floor physical therapy for constipation. Our office is conveniently located in Manhattan, NY, and we are ready to help you find relief.
What Is Constipation?
The clinical definition of constipation is when you have fewer than three bowel movements per week. Other signs of constipation include difficulty passing hard, dry, lumpy stools and feeling like your bowel movement isn’t complete.
Constipation occurs when solid waste products move slowly through your colon. It can be caused by delayed emptying due to pelvic floor disorders like pelvic floor dyssynergia or functional gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome. If your condition is caused by one of these issues, physical therapy for constipation could be an effective solution.
Ways to Relieve Constipation
The pelvic floor physical therapists at Maiden Lane Medical offer personalized treatment programs to help improve the function of your lower digestive tract, including bowel motility. Some of the potential therapies include the following:
Visceral Mobilization
Palpation of the colon and some “visceral mobilization,” which feels like an abdominal massage with some simple movements of the pelvis and legs, can often elicit some gurgling and signs of movement in the right direction. Evidence shows that abdominal massage of the ascending, transverse, and descending colons would help decrease abdominal spasticity and assist the bowel in peristalsis movement.
Your trained physical therapist can teach you exercises and self-massage movements to practice at home. You might also try some inversion, propping the buttocks higher than the head, and side-lying positions that make use of gravity to help get things moving.
Biofeedback
People who always strain and have difficulty fully emptying their bowels usually contract and tighten the external anal sphincter rather than relax and open it during defecation. Biofeedback assessment of the pelvic floor can help to assess whether there is an outlet problem due to high tension in the pelvic muscles and external sphincter.
A pelvic floor physical therapist could help the patients regain the ability to relax external anal muscles while contacting abdominal muscles to assist stool propulsion.
A review of the importance of fluids and oils in the diet to help lubricate the passage of an “easy” bowel movement, along with the addition of dietary fiber, such as salads, fruits, and vegetables, and the avoidance of heavy carbs. Imagine the image of a bagel stuck in the colon as an example compared to yogurt sliding through the colon.
Supplements
You might also benefit from adding magnesium and vitamin C supplements to your daily routine. These supplements can act as stool softeners and help keep you regular.
Elimination Diet
An elimination diet can help ease digestive problems, but it can be daunting to try and figure out where to start. An appointment with a dietician can help you sort through your meal plan and can help you avoid feeling that you have to give up everything you love to eat.
Exercise
Getting regular, moderate physical activity, such as walking 30 minutes a day, can help get things moving. Daily movement and a few simple exercises help combat all the sitting in today’s world, contributing to slow-moving digestion.
Relaxation
Stress and tension can definitely play a part in constipation. After all, who doesn’t get constipated after a travel day? Thus, learning and practicing some relaxation exercises can be extremely helpful in relieving that tension so you can stay regular.
Diaphragmatic breathing could facilitate the activation of the parasympathetic system, which encourages the body to relax and stay in the “rest and digest” state. A trained pelvic floor physical therapist could teach the patient how to use diaphragmatic breathing to improve pelvic floor muscle awareness and massage internal organs, like the intestine and stomach.
The pelvic floor physical therapists at Maiden Lane Medical recommend a 25-minute relaxation program called Physiological Quieting. Pelvic physical therapist guru, Janet Hulme, created the program, which she provides for free with a Prime Membership on Amazon. Practice relaxation before bedtime for a wonderful deep sleep and an easy bowel movement in the morning.
Find out how our doctors can help you!
Find out how our doctors can help you!
When Should I See a Physical Therapist for Constipation?
A pelvic floor physical therapist offers nonpharmaceutical treatment to address underlying pelvic floor issues that contribute to infrequent bowel movements and other uncomfortable symptoms.
For example, suppose you have a pelvic floor disorder that interferes with your bowel function. In that case, physical therapy can address issues in your pelvic floor muscles, improving blood flow and pelvic floor muscle strength to restore healthy digestive function.
Constipation Facts
Other common causes:
- Age
- Pregnancy
- Medications
- Supplements
- Traveling
- Dietary changes
Prevention:
- Eat a high-fiber diet
- Exercise moderately every day
- Drink plenty of water
- Move your bowels at the same time every day
Other Treatments:
- Over-the-counter laxative use
- Prescription medicine
- Surgery
If you experience chronic constipation, contact Maiden Lane Medical today to schedule an appointment with a pelvic floor physical therapist. Our specialists in Manhattan, NY are ready to give you the assistance you need!
Medically Reviewed By
When Should I See a Physical Therapist for Constipation?
A pelvic floor physical therapist offers nonpharmaceutical treatment to address underlying pelvic floor issues that contribute to infrequent bowel movements and other uncomfortable symptoms.
For example, suppose you have a pelvic floor disorder that interferes with your bowel function. In that case, physical therapy can address issues in your pelvic floor muscles, improving blood flow and pelvic floor muscle strength to restore healthy digestive function.
Constipation Facts
Other common causes:
- Age
- Pregnancy
- Medications
- Supplements
- Traveling
- changes
Prevention:
- Eat a high-fiber diet
- Exercise moderately every day
- Drink plenty of water
- Move your bowels at the same time every day
Other Treatments:
- Over-the-counter laxative use
- Prescription medicine
- Surgery
If you experience chronic constipation, contact Maiden Lane Medical today to schedule an appointment with a pelvic floor physical therapist. Our specialists in Manhattan, NY are ready to give you the assistance you need!