Sphincter and Pelvic Floor Strengthening
Targeted exercises to rebuild the strength and coordination of the external anal sphincter, internal sphincter, and puborectalis muscle that work together to maintain continence.
Bowel Leakage
Leaking stool or gas (even occasionally) can feel like something you'd never tell anyone. But bowel leakage is a pelvic floor problem, it's more common than you think, and it responds very well to treatment.
This Is One of the Most Under-Reported Conditions in Women's Health
An estimated 10-15% of women experience some degree of fecal incontinence, and the vast majority never bring it up with their doctor. The embarrassment is real, but suffering in silence is unnecessary. This is one of the conditions pelvic PT addresses most directly and most effectively.
Signs and Symptoms
Does Any of This Sound Familiar?
If you’re nodding at more than a few of these, your pelvic floor is asking for attention.
Leaking stool before you can get to the bathroom
Accidental leakage during exercise, bending, or lifting
Difficulty controlling gas
Smearing or soiling when you thought you were done
Needing to rush to the bathroom urgently for bowel movements
Incomplete emptying followed by unexpected leakage
Anxiety about being away from a bathroom
Avoiding social activities, exercise, or sex because of fear of leakage
Root Cause
What's Actually Causing It
Bowel leakage (fecal incontinence) happens when the pelvic floor muscles and anal sphincter complex can’t maintain control over bowel movements. The most common causes in women include injury to the anal sphincter during vaginal delivery, nerve damage related to childbirth or chronic straining, pelvic organ prolapse (particularly rectocele), and loose stools that overwhelm even a functioning sphincter.
Pelvic floor muscle weakness or poor coordination is at the root of most cases. The external and internal anal sphincters, along with the puborectalis muscle, need to work in coordination to maintain continence, especially with urgency, physical activity, or loose stool.
When any part of that system breaks down, leakage follows.
Your Treatment
How Pelvic Floor Therapy Helps
Pelvic floor PT for bowel leakage is one of the most well-researched areas in the field, with strong evidence supporting its effectiveness even for cases with structural sphincter damage. Treatment rebuilds the strength, coordination, and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles responsible for bowel control.
Bowel Retraining
Structured strategies to manage urgency and establish predictable bowel habits. Reducing the urgency component reduces the window where leakage can happen.Dietary and Lifestyle Guidance
Stool consistency and bowel habits are directly affected by diet, hydration, and daily routine. Guidance on what's helping and what's making things harder.Bowel Mechanics Education
Correct technique for bowel movements reduces strain on the sphincter and pelvic floor and prevents the gradual worsening that often comes from years of poor mechanics.
Your Path to Relief
How Treatment Works
A clear, supportive process designed to meet you where you are with guidance every step of the way
Our Services
Pelvic Physical Therapy That Fits Your Lifestyle
We offer a flexible approach to pelvic health that adapts to your life. Each service is designed to address root causes and build lasting strength.
Virtual Pelvic Physical Therapy
One-on-one virtual pelvic floor physical therapy for women who want expert care and accountability from anywhere.
In-Person Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Hands-on pelvic floor physical therapy in Orange County for those ready to resolve pain, bladder issues, and pelvic dysfunction.
Evidence-based strength and nutrition coaching designed to help you improve body composition and rebuild confidence, without sacrificing your hormones, gut health, or your social life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. Pelvic floor PT can significantly improve bowel control even with partial sphincter tears, by training the intact muscles to compensate and by improving overall pelvic floor coordination. Surgery is sometimes indicated for complete sphincter disruption, but PT is recommended first or alongside it.
Yes, bowel leakage is still treatable even years after delivery. The muscles that control bowel function can be trained and strengthened at any point postpartum. The longer the pattern has been present, the more sessions it may take, but meaningful improvement is very achievable.
The education, bowel retraining, and exercise components are fully transferable to online sessions. In-person care in California is available for patients who benefit from direct assessment and manual work.
It’s not required, but if you haven’t had a medical evaluation, it’s reasonable to rule out structural causes that might benefit from surgical repair. Pelvic PT and colorectal care work well together.
This Is Treatable. You Don't Have to Keep It to Yourself.
You don’t have to keep managing this quietly. Bowel leakage is treatable, and a free consultation is a completely private first step.