Constipation

What is it? 

On average, constipation is defined as having less than 3-4 bowl movements a week.  

What are the symptoms? 

• Even if you are having a bowel movement, you may not feel complete emptying, or the consistency of your stool may feel hard.
• Sometime with constipation you can have overflow which is loose stool that comes out intermittently due to a back up of stool that cannot properly exit the body.
• You may have abdominal cramping, feel bloating, you may have symptoms of GERD.

Why should I address this?

Straining to have a bowl movement can create pressure down the chain and lead to other pelvic floor conditions such as tension to the pelvic muscles, pain, or prolapse.

What is the digestive system and how does it influence my symptoms?

From entering the body or exiting the body, dysfunction can occur anywhere through the digestive cycle.  Your therapist can help mobilize and involved organs, dysfunctional or frozen sphincter (tubes that control movement from one organ to the next), or help stimulate peristalsis (movement of food through the intestinal tract). 

The video in the right depicts the digestive path taking about 5-6 hours to complete.  Your therapist should consider the influence from all these organs when coming up with a treatment plan for you. 

What can I change to help my bowel movements today? 

• Your bowls like consistency and habit.  Keep meal times to the same time each day.
• Have 8-12 grams of soluble and insoluble fiber with each meal.
• Drink 4-6 oz of water per hour (not bubble water)  
• Avoid inflammatory foods including lactose, gluten, sugar, and alcohol.  
• Warm liquids and exercise can help encourage a bowel movement to occur.  
• When on the toilet, avoid straining or breath holding.  To do avoid breath holding, lean forward, breathe in, on the exhale cinch in your waist.  Repeat this process several times to assist the stool. 
• Some individuals use a technique called splinting, which is using a device or digital assist (with their finger).  Before trying splinting, see your therapist for guidance.