How Pelvic Health PT Can Help with Bowel Movements & What Your Poop Might Be Telling You!

Hey, pelvic pros! Did you know your poop could be dropping hints about your overall pelvic health? Yup, for those dealing with constipation, discomfort with evacuation, &/or postpartum poop challenges, having a pelvic health physio on your team can make all the difference! And sometimes, clues by the shape and size of your stools may mean that it’s time to give those Kegels a break. Here’s what to look for and how pelvic health physiotherapy can help.

1. Stringy, Thin Poop

Seeing thin, stringy poop? This might mean your pelvic floor is a bit too hypertonic. When the muscles down there are over-clenched, they can narrow the anal canal and change the shape of your stool. This is a sign to check in with a pelvic health physio who can help identify the source of the hypertonicity and offer individualized advice on how to ease that tension.

2. Hard-to-Pass Poop

If pooping feels like an uphill battle, or if you even need to assist things along (with laxatives, enemas, or a finger), your pelvic floor might be holding too much tension—often from overdoing those Kegels, or you may be withholding your stools for too long or not fully emptying ‘the batch’ from the time you went before. A pelvic physio can teach you “down-training” techniques and gentle stretches to help those muscles let go at the right time and context. We can also identify why there’s slow motility in the gut or toileting no-nos that you may be practicing, thereby making it hard to fully empty your stools!

3. Watery Poop Leaks

Watery stool in your underwear? Believe it or not, this might mean constipation! Sometimes, looser stool “sneaks” around harder stool that’s stuck. It is important to address with a medical doctor or nutritionist if it is true diarrhea and requires medical intervention to slow down the motility or help with bulking the stool.

4. Blood Streaks on the Stool or Blood Spotting in the bowl

Spotting blood can be alarming, and while it’s often from hemorrhoids or anal fissures, it’s worth getting checked out no matter what! Once you are clear from red flags, and you have received a diagnosis of hemorrhoids or anal fissures, Pelvic physio can help here too! We can help by teaching relaxation techniques, optimal toileting strategies, anal sphincter and PFM biofeedback to reduce strain that may cause or worsen hemorrhoids/fissures. Learn some easy techniques you can do on your own at the end of this blog!

5. Painful Poops

When pooping feels like you’re passing “daggers,” (...ouch)  it might be due to the presence of an anal fissure (cut at the anal canal) or hypertonic pelvic floor muscles, which can get worse with frequent Kegels, even stress! Pain is a sign that your body might need a different approach.

6. Feeling "Not Done" After Pooping… ‘Leaving Some Friends Behind’

If you often feel like you haven’t emptied fully, it might mean your stools are too dry and pellet like - making it difficult to pass. Or it may also mean the pelvic floor isn’t coordinated to allow a full evacuation. This is a common theme, but many patients I see will have hypertonic pelvic floors, which can make it hard to completely “let go.” Pelvic physio can work wonders here with relaxation exercises and tips like the “ABC” strategy— (Alignment, Breath, Core Relaxation).

7. The Rare ‘Comet’ Poop Appearance

If you ever see a rare sighting of a comet poop, really round (oftentimes large) and hard beginning of the stool and then a soft tail that follows, then you may need to head to the pelvic health physios office immediately to check on whether you have a rectoceole or not. Sometimes, this can be an indication of a rectoceole, which can form a rectal pouch behind the posterior vaginal and unfortunately can collect poop and make it difficulty to pass…. until one day, it does pass and you see a large hard collection that has been made plus the tail being the ‘fresher’ poop! You may also need a femmeze tool to place vaginally to support stool movements, should you find that you have a rectoceole and can pass stool easier with some assistance.

Quick Tips for Easier Bowel Movements

1. Use the “ABC” Strategy: Practice “Alignment, Breath, Core Relaxation” when you’re on the toilet to reduce strain and encourage a smooth experience.

2. Prop Your Feet Up: Use a small stool under your feet to get into a squat-like position, which can improve alignment and help things along.

Listen to Your Body—and Your Poop!

Our poop can give us real insight into pelvic health. If you’re seeing any of these signs, consider adjusting your routine and check in with a pelvic health physiotherapist. Checkout our ‘Better Bowel Movements’ Video Library in our Pelvic Pro Shop for a yoga-based and pelvic health education based guide for all things poop related! With the right approach, you’ll find bathroom trips are a lot less scary, comfortable and quick! 

Written with love and compassion,

Jane J. Bai MSc PT, MSc, BMSc

Pelvic Health & Orthopaedic Physiotherapist

200YTT

Instagram: @PelvicPro

YouTube: @BodyScanwithJane

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