Painful Bowel Movements

While common, pain during bowel movements is not considered normal and may be a sign of an underlying condition, many of which can be addressed with a combination of pelvic health physical therapy and care from your primary care provider. Frequent causes may include constipation and/or hard stool, especially if your pelvic floor muscles are having a hard time relaxing. Additional causes may include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease, or endometriosis, which can also produce pain.

Pelvic health physical therapy is an integral part of the care team for many underlying conditions and can assist in recovery through education on regulating bowels, providing strategies for moderating a bowel movement, and releasing any identified tension in the pelvic floor musculature.