Fecal Incontinence Physical Therapy

Bowel incontinence, also known as anal or fecal incontinence, is the inability to control bowel movements causing stool to leak unexpectedly. The amount of stool will vary as sometimes only a small quantity will be lost or the complete bowel movement may be lost. The consistency of the stool can also vary, as the stool can be loose with some solids and/or very dense. Generally speaking, diarrhea is not the same as bowel incontinence. Feces the consistency of liquid (diarrhea) is usually related to a malabsorption, dehydration or infection and is difficult for everyone to control.

Your pelvic floor therapist will perform a full evaluation to help determine your pelvic floor awareness, which is your ability to contract and isolate the muscles responsible for keeping you from avoiding an accident. Your therapist will then prescribe individualized exercises to help build upon the lack of or already established awareness. Once you have adequate strength, your therapist will progress the program to incorporate the maneuvers in a variety of positions until you feel comfortable enough to manage your daily routine without the hesitation incontinence may contribute to.

To ensure your comfort and privacy, all Pelvic Floor treatments are held in our Private Treatment Rooms. Please call (408) 736-7600 to schedule an appointment with one of our women’s health and pelvic floor specialists. We look forward to helping you find the relief you deserve from incontinence and/or other related pelvic floor dysfunction.