Home›What We Treat›Constipation and Bowel Health
Pelvic health for women
Constipation and pelvic floor therapy in Shirley, MA
The short answer
Constipation is not always about diet. For many women, the pelvic floor muscles do not relax the way they should when it is time to go, which leads to straining, a feeling of not emptying all the way and bowel habits that run the day. Pelvic floor physical therapy helps those muscles work together again so going to the bathroom gets easier.
On this page
What usually causes constipation and straining
Food, water and activity matter, but they are only part of the picture. These are the patterns we see most often.
- A pelvic floor that will not let go
- The muscles that should relax to let stool out tighten instead. You push harder, and it gets harder.
- Pregnancy and postpartum
- Hormones, iron supplements, pain after delivery and a stretched pelvic floor can all slow things down.
- Holding it
- Busy days, public restrooms and skipping the urge teach the body to ignore the signal.
- Low water, fiber or movement
- Not enough fluids, fiber or daily movement makes stool harder to pass.
- Pain with bowel movements
- Hemorrhoids, fissures or pelvic pain make you tense up, which makes the next trip even harder.
When to get it checked
Get checked if you strain most of the time, feel like you never fully empty, need to press or change positions to go, or leak stool or gas. See your doctor soon if you notice blood in your stool, black stools, unplanned weight loss, a big change in your bowel habits, or constipation that started suddenly. Go to the emergency room if you have severe belly pain with vomiting, a swollen hard belly, or you cannot pass stool or gas at all.
What you can do at home right now
These are safe starting points for most people. They are not a replacement for a proper evaluation.
- Use a footstool
- Put your feet on a small stool so your knees are above your hips. It lines things up and makes it easier to go.
- Breathe, do not push
- Take slow belly breaths and let your belly soften. Gentle breathing helps the pelvic floor relax instead of clamping down.
- Build a routine
- Try going at the same time each day, often after breakfast, and do not ignore the urge when it comes.
How we treat constipation at Whole Health Solutions
Your pelvic health therapist is with you for the whole appointment, start to finish, in a private room. We talk through your habits and symptoms, check how your pelvic floor, breathing and core work together, and build a plan that fits your life.
01
Relieve
Positioning, breathing and simple bathroom habits that make going easier right away.
02
Rebuild
Teach the pelvic floor to relax and coordinate with your core, plus the daily habits that keep things regular.
03
Perform
Bowel habits that stop running your day, so you can get back to work, workouts and life. Our health coaches can help with nutrition and routines too.
04
Thrive
Stay strong through every season of life, from pregnancy to menopause and beyond, with a team that already knows your story.
Thrive is not a finish line. When life brings something new, the loop starts again with the same team.
Common exercises for constipation and bowel health
These are a few of the exercises our team often uses for constipation and bowel health. Tap one to watch.
Please read first. These are not right for everyone. If a move brings on sharp pain, numbness or tingling, stop and talk to one of our pelvic health therapists before you keep going.
Learn from our team
Short, free videos from our clinicians on questions we hear about constipation and bowel health all the time.
Read more from our team
Blog posts, newsletter tips and columns from our clinicians that go with constipation and bowel health.
Talk to a pelvic health therapist
A free call to tell us what is going on and see if we are the right fit.
Common questions about constipation and bowel health
Can pelvic floor therapy help constipation?
Yes. When constipation comes from pelvic floor muscles that do not relax the right way, pelvic floor therapy is one of the most helpful treatments. It works well alongside the diet and habit changes your doctor may suggest.
Why do I still feel like I have to go after a bowel movement?
That feeling of not emptying all the way is often a sign the pelvic floor is not relaxing fully. Pelvic floor therapy can help those muscles let go and work together.
Is a footstool really that helpful?
For many women, yes. Raising your knees above your hips relaxes the muscle that wraps around the rectum and makes it easier to go without straining.
Do I need a referral for constipation?
No. You can book directly with us. Most of our clients do use their insurance for reimbursement of our physical therapy services. We go over everything in the discovery meeting.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Everyone is different, so the best next step is an evaluation with one of our pelvic health therapists.
Visit us
Serving 22+ nearby towns and beyond
2 Shaker Road, Suite C200, Shirley, MA 01464. Monday to Thursday, 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday, 5:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Saturday, 6:00 am to 1:00 pm.