Muscle Awareness and Biofeedback
Many people have no idea what their pelvic floor is doing during a bowel movement. Building awareness of what your muscles are actually doing is the first step to changing the pattern.
Constipation
If straining is your normal and going to the bathroom feels like a workout, your pelvic floor might be the reason. Chronic constipation often has a muscular component, and that's exactly what pelvic floor therapy addresses.
Constipation Is More Common Than You Think, and More Treatable
An estimated 16% of adults deal with chronic constipation, and women are disproportionately affected. Most people go straight to fiber, laxatives, and more water, and for some, that helps. But when constipation keeps coming back despite all the right habits, the pelvic floor is usually part of the conversation that's missing.
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.
Straining every time you have a bowel movement
Feeling like you can't fully empty even after going
Having fewer than 3 bowel movements per week
Hard, dry, or pellet-like stools
Needing to use your hand or push on your perineum to go
Bloating and abdominal discomfort
Hemorrhoids from repeated straining
Feeling like something is blocking you from fully evacuating
Root Cause
What's Actually Causing It
Constipation has multiple causes, diet, hydration, medication, and gut motility all play a role. But a commonly missed cause is a pelvic floor that can’t properly relax and open during defecation. This is called dyssynergic defecation or obstructed defecation, and it happens when the muscles that should release and lengthen when you bear down actually tighten up instead. The harder you strain, the more tension you create, and nothing moves.
This pattern is especially common in women who carry chronic pelvic tension, have experienced trauma, have a history of painful intercourse, or have had difficult vaginal deliveries. It can also develop gradually over years of incorrect toilet habits, straining, hovering, or rushing.
Your Treatment
How Pelvic Floor Therapy Helps
Pelvic floor PT for constipation focuses on teaching the pelvic floor to do what it's supposed to do: relax and open when it's time to go. your doctor uses education, neuromuscular retraining, and hands-on techniques to release excess tension and retrain coordination.
Breath Mechanics
Breathing correctly during defecation works with your body's natural mechanics. Most people either hold their breath or bear down incorrectly, and both create more tension and resistance.Toilet Positioning
The way you sit on the toilet directly affects how well your pelvic floor can relax. Proper positioning reduces the effort required and helps the body do what it's designed to do.Habit and Pattern Correction
Identifying the daily habits that are reinforcing your constipation, whether it's rushing, hovering, straining, or ignoring the urge, and replacing them with patterns that work.
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
If the pelvic floor isn’t coordinating properly during bowel movements, no amount of fiber will fix it. A full pelvic floor assessment can identify whether muscle tension or poor defecation dynamics are at the root of the problem.
Dyssynergic defecation is when the muscles that should relax to allow a bowel movement actually contract instead. It’s more common than most people realize. your doctor can identify this through assessment and treat it directly.
Not necessarily, though if you haven’t had a medical evaluation to rule out other GI issues, that’s a good idea. Pelvic PT and GI care work well together, they’re addressing different parts of the same problem.
Yes, education, positioning training, breathing techniques, and exercise prescription are all highly effective in virtual sessions. In-person care is also available for patients in California.
Going to the Bathroom Shouldn't Be a Battle
If straining is your normal, pelvic floor therapy might be the answer you’ve been missing. A free consultation is where we find out.