Bowel concerns can be uncomfortable, distressing and difficult to talk about, but they are far more common than most people realise, and help is available.

Many bowel symptoms are linked to pelvic floor muscle function, bowel habits and how the nervous system coordinates emptying. Pelvic health physiotherapy is a recommended, conservative treatment option for a wide range of bowel issues and is often used before medication or surgical approaches.

At Elevate Pelvic Health, we commonly help people with:

Constipation
Infrequent bowel motions, straining, incomplete emptying or needing to use techniques to help stool pass.

Bowel urgency
A sudden, strong need to open the bowels, sometimes with difficulty reaching the toilet in time.

Bowel incontinence
Accidental leakage of stool, ranging from small smears to full bowel accidents. Around 1 in 10 adults experience some degree of bowel incontinence, though many never seek help.

Difficulty controlling wind (flatus incontinence)
Trouble holding in gas, which can significantly affect confidence and social activities.

Pain with bowel movements
Pain during or after opening the bowels, once conditions such as fissures, haemorrhoids or inflammatory bowel disease have been appropriately assessed.

How pelvic health physiotherapy can help

Effective bowel emptying requires coordinated relaxation and control of the pelvic floor muscles, not just strength.

Your pelvic health physiotherapy assessment may include:

- A detailed discussion of your bowel symptoms and routines

- Assessment of pelvic floor muscle coordination and relaxation

- Review of toileting posture, breathing patterns and abdominal muscle use

- Identification of dietary, lifestyle or behavioural factors contributing to symptoms

Treatment may include:

- Pelvic floor muscle retraining (often focusing on relaxation and coordination)

- Bowel retraining and habit optimisation

- Toileting posture and defecation technique education

- Breathing and abdominal wall strategies to support bowel emptying

- Guidance around safe exercise and movement

You don’t have to live with bowel symptoms

Bowel problems can impact comfort, confidence and quality of life, but they are not something you need to tolerate in silence. With the right assessment and treatment, many people see meaningful improvement in symptoms.

If you’re experiencing constipation, urgency, leakage, difficulty controlling wind or pain with bowel movements, pelvic health physiotherapy may be able to help.

Our Springfield Pelvic Health Clinic

Elevate Pelvic Health provides expert women’s health physiotherapy to the Springfield Central community and surrounding suburbs, including Brookwater, Augustine Heights, and Spring Mountain.

You can find us conveniently located inside the Total Fusion Lions complex at 16 Eden Station Drive. Our clinic offers a private, supportive environment where we combine evidence-based care with a deep understanding of the local community’s needs. Whether you are visiting us for pregnancy support or pelvic floor rehabilitation, our Springfield team is here to help you move with confidence.

Getting Here: We are just a short walk from the Springfield Central train station, with ample parking available on-site at the Lions stadium precinct.