{"id":1328,"date":"2020-02-12T10:11:41","date_gmt":"2020-02-12T18:11:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/motipt.com\/?p=1328"},"modified":"2021-09-14T12:16:02","modified_gmt":"2021-09-14T19:16:02","slug":"constipation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/motipt.com\/constipation\/","title":{"rendered":"Constipation & Your Pelvic Floor: Position Matters!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever thought about the mechanics of how you have a bowel movement? If you\u2019re regular, then probably not. Even if you<\/span> suffer from constipation, as many people do, you still may never have thought about it! There are many dietary factors and health conditions, such as IBS, that c<\/span>an result in constipation. However, your pelvic floor muscles play a role in your bowel movements as well<\/span>. And this means that <\/span>how<\/span><\/i> you have a bowel movement matters.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk anatomy. Your pelvic floor is like a sling or hammock at the bottom of your pelvis. This me<\/span>ans that <\/span>i<\/span>mportant exit paths for waste,<\/span> like your urethra and your rectum, need to pass through it to get to the outside.<\/span> One <\/span>particular muscle<\/span>, called your puborectalis, plays a very important role in your bowel function. This muscle <\/span>encircles itself around the rectum like a tether. When the muscle is pul<\/span>led more tightly around the rectum it<\/span> cinches the passageway and<\/span> helps us keep fecal matter in. This is good<\/span> most of the time<\/span> because we certainly don\u2019t want to <\/span>have a bowel movement at the wrong time! Conversely, when we do want or need to have a bowel movement, that muscle needs to be able to relax and length<\/span>en<\/span> so that the rectum can become an easy passageway.<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

So<\/span> what does this mean for how we have a bowel movement? This anatomy means that the position we\u2019re in while having a bowel movement can impact <\/span>whether the puborectalis muscle is pulled taught (constricting the rectum) or allowed to length<\/span>en<\/span> (leaving the rectal passageway more open).<\/span> When we\u2019re sitting, as we are on standard <\/span>W<\/span>estern toilets, our positioning doesn\u2019t help us <\/span>loosen the puborectalis. But if we come into a squatting position, as many <\/span>E<\/span>as<\/span>tern countries do, the puborectalis muscle relaxes and lengthens to allow stool to pass more easily.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/span>The good news is that you don\u2019t need to throw out your current toilet! All you need to do is place your feet on a small stool in front of you to get your knees higher than your hips<\/span>. Once you\u2019<\/span>v<\/span>e done this you\u2019re essentially in a squatting position and your puborectalis will be easier to relax. If you are dealing with constipation this can <\/span>make bowel movements both easier and more comfortable. Managing diet, getting regular exercise, and reducing stress are also key pilla<\/span>rs in dealing with constipation, as well as worki<\/span>ng with your doctor <\/span>and a pelvic floor physical therapist <\/span>on determining the underlying cause.<\/span> <\/span>However, understanding the mechanics of bowel movements and<\/span> changing your position is one more small way to make things easier!<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

– Dr. Lindsay Brunner, PT, DPT, OCS<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever thought about the mechanics of how you have a bowel movement? If you\u2019re regular, then probably not. Even if you suffer from constipation, as many people do, you still may never have thought about it! There are many dietary factors and health conditions, such as IBS, that can result in constipation. However, your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1331,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[20,11,23,21,22],"class_list":["post-1328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-womens-health","tag-constipation","tag-pelvic-floor-physical-therapy","tag-puborectalis-muscle","tag-squatty-potty","tag-toilet-position"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nConstipation & Your Pelvic Floor: Position Matters! - MOTI Physiotherapy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Have you ever thought about the mechanics of how you have a bowel movement? If you\u2019re regular, then probably not. 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