Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction And Constipation

Your gut reaction might actually be telling you something about your pelvic floor muscle function.

Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and constipation.

Outlet constipation occurs when the stool is stuck in the rectum which is usually due to dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles. As a pelvic floor physical therapist the first thing i offer my patients is education. Pelvic floor dysfunction is the inability to correctly relax and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles to have a bowel movement. If you do not have regular bowel movements or have pain or difficulty emptying your bowels you could be one of the 20 of folks who experience constipation.

The pelvic floor is a muscular bowl that encompasses the rectum bladder and for women the uterus. Constipation dyssynergia and your pelvic floor muscles. Lack of physical activity especially in the elderly medications e g. This can lead to straining during a bowel movement which causes the muscles to tighten even.

Chronic constipation is frequently a cause of damage to the pelvic floor muscles and fascial support ligaments. Your pelvic floor is the group of muscles and ligaments in your pelvic region the pelvic floor acts like a. If the pelvic floor muscles in the rectum are too tight and unable to relax it becomes difficult for stool to be passed. Anismus puborectalis dyssynergia paradoxical puborectalis obstructive defecation dyssynergic defecation pelvic outlet obstruction and pelvic floor dysfunction.

There is a complex interaction among these different organs. Pelvic floor dysfunction is the inability to control the muscles of your pelvic floor. Research has shown that upwards of 50 of people with constipation have concurrent pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic floor dyssynergia is known by many different names including.

Pain medications especially narcotics antacids that contain aluminum and calcium some blood pressure medications calcium channel blockers anti parkinson drugs antispasmodics antidepressants iron supplements diuretics anticonvulsants. In the act of defecating or having a bowel movement the anal sphincter the group of muscles at the end of the rectum has to relax and the abdominal. Chronic constipation can cause stretching of the pudendal nerve due to prolonged and repetitive straining leading to pelvic floor weakness secondary to nerve damage. To put it simply the pelvic floor muscles are overactive tight or non relaxing.

Irregular meals and not enough fiber in the diet. Straining hard or thin stools and a feeling of incomplete elimination are common signs and symptoms. As many as 50 percent of people with chronic constipation have pelvic floor dysfunction pfd impaired relaxation and coordination of pelvic floor and abdominal muscles during evacuation. Constipation also creates more pressure on the bladder and urethra which may cause.