Pelvic Floor and Constipation

Pelvic Floor Health and Constipation: What’s the Connection?

 

 

Constipation isn’t just a digestive issue- it’s also a pelvic floor issue. If you’ve been dealing with straining, infrequent bowel movements, or the feeling of incomplete emptying, your pelvic floor might be playing a bigger role than you think.

Let’s explore how the pelvic floor affects bowel function, what signs to watch for, and how physical therapy can help bring things back into balance.

What Does the Pelvic Floor Have to Do with Pooping?

Your pelvic floor muscles are involved in more than just bladder control and core support. They also help regulate bowel movements.

When you’re ready to have a bowel movement, your pelvic floor muscles need to relax to allow stool to pass. If they stay tight, uncoordinated, or if you’re bearing down improperly, you might have trouble going, or feel like you didn’t fully empty.

Signs Your Pelvic Floor Might Be Contributing to Constipation

  • Straining or pushing to have a bowel movement

  • Needing to sit on the toilet for a long time

  • Going less than three times per week

  • Feeling like stool gets “stuck” or you can’t fully empty

  • Needing to press on your perineum or vagina to help the stool come out (a technique called “splinting”)

  • Pain with bowel movements

If any of this sounds familiar, it could be a sign that your pelvic floor muscles are too tight or not coordinating properly during bowel movements.

What Causes Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Related to Constipation?

A few common culprits include:

  • Chronic straining or pushing (which can actually make things worse over time)

  • Poor toilet posture

  • Anxiety or stress leading to muscle tension

  • Holding in bowel movements often

  • Pregnancy or birth trauma

  • Tight pelvic floor muscles (hypertonic pelvic floor)

  • History of pain with bowel movements

Sometimes, constipation starts as a gut or diet issue, but becomes a pelvic floor issue when the muscles begin to compensate in ways that are unhelpful.

How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help

You don’t have to rely only on fiber supplements or laxatives. A pelvic floor physical therapist can assess your coordination and muscle function to find out why you’re having trouble going.

Treatment might include:

  • Training your muscles to relax during bowel movements

  • Breathing techniques that support natural elimination

  • Toileting posture education (hint: a squatty potty can help!)

  • Manual therapy to release tight muscles or scar tissue

  • Gentle stretches to reduce tension in the pelvic and abdominal area

  • Lifestyle and hydration guidance to support regularity

The goal is to help your body work with gravity, not against it, and create ease around something that should feel natural and routine.

What You Can Try at Home

While it’s always best to get personalized care, here are a few general tips to try:

  • Sit on the toilet with your knees above your hips (use a footstool)
  • Try deep belly breaths before trying to go
  • Try taking a slow sniff as that can help your pelvic floor relax and open so stool can pass
  • Avoid straining or pushing hard – try to “exhale” the stool out gently
  • Give yourself consistent toilet time each day
  • Stay hydrated and eat enough fiber-rich foods

Final Thoughts

If constipation has become a regular part of your life, don’t ignore it or assume it’s just your “normal.” The pelvic floor plays a key role in healthy bowel habits, and if those muscles are too tight or not coordinating properly, no amount of fiber will fully fix the problem.

Pelvic floor physical therapy offers a gentle, effective approach to treating constipation at its root, so you can feel more comfortable, less bloated, and back in control of your body.

 

Read more about V Strong Physical Therapy, and find out how pelvic floor physical therapy can benefit you! We’re excited to help you start on your pelvic floor journey.

https://vstrongphysicaltherapy.com/about/

 

Works Cited

“The Link between Chronic Constipation and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction.” The Link Between Chronic Constipation and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Colon and Rectal Surgeons of Greater Hartford: Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://www.crsgh.com/blog/the-link-between-chronic-constipation-and-pelvic-floor-dysfunction.

https://www.crsgh.com/blog/the-link-between-chronic-constipation-and-pelvic-floor-dysfunction

Diaz, Sorangel. “Constipation.” StatPearls [Internet]., November 12, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513291/.