🌿 How Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Can Support Digestive Health

Did you know that pelvic health physical therapy can help ease digestive issues related to conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Disease, and other inflammatory bowel conditions? Pelvic health physical therapy supports your whole system by targeting symptoms that often feel overwhelming.

💡 Why Women Experience These Symptoms More

• Women are generally more prone to stomach and digestive troubles than men.

• These symptoms can be tied to hormone changes, especially during pregnancy or around menopause.

• Many women with IBS also face challenges with sexual health, constipation, or changes in bowel habits—all of which can be connected to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.

🛠 How Pelvic PTs Help

Pelvic health physical therapists use techniques to calm the body’s stress response which can help balance the gut-brain microbiome, pain and fatigue. Treatment might include:

• Exercise prescription and progression tailored to you, wherever you are in your journey.

• Improve sleep - with positions of comfort, modifying habits and relaxation techniques.

• Vagus nerve stimulation, part of the parasympathetic nervous system - to better “rest and digest”

• Diaphragm and Thoracic techniques to improve deep, restorative, calming breaths.

• Discuss simple nutrition shifts—like adding more fiber to your diet.

We also help manage the muscles that control bowel and bladder function—so if you’re dealing with leaks or fear of having an accident, we can support you in returning to movement and everyday activities with more confidence.

✨ Quality of Life Matters

For those with Inflammatory Bowel conditions or chronic fatigue, moving your body the right way can actually boost your energy. But people often avoid exercise if they're worried about leaks or pelvic pain—so addressing these concerns through pelvic floor therapy can open the door to getting back to the activities you love. Sometimes it’s not about leakage - it’s about getting those muscles to let go so you feel you’ve fully emptied your bowel or bladder. Physical therapy helps re-educate the muscles to relax and function more effectively.  

Call to make an appointment and get started on your journey to better overall health today!

References:

1.  Coquoz, A., Regli, D., & Stute, P. (2022). Impact of progesterone on the gastrointestinal tract: a comprehensive literature review. Climacteric, 25(4), 337–361. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2022.2033203

2.  _{Yanai, Henit et al. The Crohn's disease exclusion diet for induction and maintenance of remission in adults with mild-to-moderate Crohn's disease (CDED-AD): an open-label, pilot, randomised trial. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Volume 7, Issue 1, 49 – 59}

3. _{van Erp, L.W., Roosenboom, B., Komdeur, P. et al. Improvement of Fatigue and Quality of Life in Patients with Quiescent Inflammatory Bowel Disease Following a Personalized Exercise Program. Dig Dis Sci 66, 597–604 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-020-06222-5}

4.  _{Bondurri A, Maffioli A, Danelli P. Pelvic floor dysfunction in inflammatory bowel disease. Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica. 2015 Dec;61(4):249-259. PMID: 26603727.}

5. Varghese S, Rao S, Khattak A, Zamir F, Chaari A. Physical Exercise and the Gut Microbiome: A Bidirectional Relationship Influencing Health and Performance. Nutrients. 2024; 16(21):3663. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16213663