Constipation
Constipation is difficulty passing stool (poo) or having infrequent bowel actions. It affects people differently. You might be going less than 3 times a week. Or perhaps you go most days, but strain to empty and never feel like you’ve emptied completely. If you suffer from constipation, you’re not alone – in fact, far from it. It’s very common, occurring in up to 30% of Australians – that’s a staggering 8 million Aussies who have difficulty pooing.
Let’s face it: an easy and complete bowel empty is very satisfying. But many people don’t experience this, with most putting up with constipation for years, thinking it's normal and nothing can be done. Left untreated, constipation and difficulty emptying your bowel is downright uncomfortable and frustrating and can impact many facets of your life – like work, study, exercise, social activities and even intimacy. You might feel sluggish and bloated and even worry about leaving the house if you haven’t had a bowel movement that day.
We’re here to help you.
Constipation may be a pain in the proverbial, but there’s no need to put up with it. Our postgraduate-qualified pelvic health physiotherapists along with your other help professionals can help treat this condition, and most people experiencing constipation can benefit from real improvements. So talk to the team at Pelvic Health Matters because, as always, we’re here to help you.
Constipation is common, occurring in up to 30% of Australians. That’s a staggering 8 million Aussies who have difficulty pooing. But fortunately, our postgraduate-qualified pelvic health physios can help treat it.
Common signs & symptoms of constipation
We’re all different, but if you suffer from constipation, you’re probably familiar with some of the following:
- Straining to empty your bowel
- Never feeling like you’ve fully emptied your bowel
- Returning to the toilet soon after a bowel action to go again
- Feeling uncomfortable, bloated and sluggish
- Taking over 10 minutes for a bowel action
- Only having a bowel action once or twice a week
- Always needing to take laxatives
Risk factors & causes of constipation
- Dietary factors
- Inadequate fluid intake
- Poor bowel routine & toileting habits
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Poor pelvic floor muscle function
- Ageing
- Reduced mobility
- Insufficient exercise or movement
- Menopause
- Neurological conditions, e.g. Parkinson's Disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease, e.g. Crohn's Disease
- Medications
- Ignoring a bowel urge
Our Proven Pathway for Treating Constipation
Discover what matters
You’re assessed as a whole person
Our first step is to learn about you fully, as a whole person – not just your symptoms. To do this, your postgraduate qualified pelvic health physiotherapist will gather the following information:
- QUESTIONNAIRE: You’ll complete a pelvic health questionnaire online before your first visit. This helps us understand about your history, current health concerns and what matters to you.
- 1-on-1 CONSULTATION: Here, we’ll take the time to learn about you and your bowel habits. We believe a holistic approach enables us to understand how your specific physical, emotional and lifestyle factors influence your pelvic health.
- THOROUGH ASSESSMENT: This includes a pelvic floor and abdominal muscle examination, as well as a bowel diary and questionnaires to understand your thoughts, feelings and environment.
- CONNECTING THE DOTS: Now that we’ve discovered so much about you and your constipation concerns, we can explore how it all fits together. For example, perhaps the combination of hard poo, muscle tension and not having a strong urge is contributing to your difficulty emptying.
- SET GOALS: We’ll help you set meaningful pelvic health goals such as:
- Empty my bowel easily and feel satisfied
- Go away for the weekend, knowing I’ll be able to poo
- Spend less time on the toilet so I can get to work on time
Restore what matters
You’ll have a personalised pelvic health plan.
This is where we roll up our sleeves, get to work and start making real changes. Together, we’ll choose the best research-proven treatment options that fit your lifestyle. You’ll learn how your bowel works, what’s not working and how to improve your constipation and bowel emptying.
Next, we’ll start you on a good bowel routine and educate you on how to get a soft-formed poo. Then, we’ll begin Pelvic Floor Muscle Training. You’ll learn new skills and connect with hidden muscles you mightn’t have known you had. You’ll have a personalised program based on your needs. And you’ll learn how to use these skills effectively when emptying your bowel – we’ll use biofeedback to help with this.
We’ll also give you excellent resources and tools to help you progress.
ABOUT YOUR APPOINTMENTS: Together, we’ll work out how often we should see each other. We’ll agree on what works best for you, your commitments and your finances.
Enjoy what matters
You’ll be living your best life.
The third step is ensuring you achieve all the meaningful goals you set at the beginning of your journey. You might also find you can embrace new possibilities you hadn’t considered, such as getting on with your day without thinking about your bowel or upgrading your wardrobe with more form-fitting clothes. You’ll be equipped with the skills to ensure bowel emptying in all situations, without returning for appointments.
Sometimes, life’s events might mean you want to return for a reset. You may have a stressful life event, a change of diet or routine or have started a new medication, making bowel emptying even trickier. Whatever the case, we’ll always be here to help you.
More info on constipation
Other Related Conditions
Pelvic Health Matters
New name.
Same exceptional care.
Formerly known as Women’s & Men’s Health Physiotherapy, our new name reflects both what we believe in and what we do. We have an unwavering belief that pelvic health matters for everyone, at every stage of life.
Same phone number: 03 8823 8300
New email: physio@pelvichealth.com.au