Bowel Dysfunction for Physiotherapists

 Pelvic health physiotherapy is an area of rapid professional growth and development with more awareness of conditions such as urinary dysfunction, obstetric anal sphincter injury, bowel dysfunction, prolapse, perineal trauma and constipation.

Developing further expertise in pelvic health is challenging and can be a source of frustration to clinicians. Lisa Hastie is an experienced Pelvic Health Physio who has worked in the NHS as a specialist for 15 + years and has been involved in the education and training of other physios in the NHS, UK & internationally.

Bowel dysfunction is a condition that patients can find difficult to get high quality information on and treatment for and is a cause of much distress and physical limitations. Physiotherapists have a big role to play in this condition.

This brand new course is ideal for the  women’s health physio who wants to develop their clinical skills and scope of practice and further help the women and men of their communities.

This Course will further develop your ability to assess, treat and manage more complex female and male pelvic health presentations such as Bowel dysfunction and will focus on :         

Contents

• What is normal? – The defecation process , frequency & stool consistency
• Review of anatomy – Levator ani , pelvic floor and anal sphincter

Commonly encountered conditions in practice:

• Irritable bowel
• Diverticulitis
• Rectocele / Rectal prolapse
• Haemorrhoids / Anal fissure /Perianal abscess
• 3rd/4th degree tears and sphincter damage
• Anisimus / Proctalgia fugax/Levator ani syndrome
• Gut micro biota and implications of dysbiosis

Red flags

Ano-rectal assessment in clinical practice

Treatment and management strategies:

• Breathing mechanics
• Defecation dynamics
• Appropriate fluid intake/diet
• Irrigation
• Biofeedback/NMES
• Myofascial techniques for over-activity
• Use of laxatives/probiotics
• Anal Plugs
• Abdominal massage for slow transit
• Yoga

The multidisciplinary team in the management of bowel

disorders

Tutor :

Lisa Hastie has over 15 years of pelvic health experience and expertise in the NHS and also works in the Birmingham Pelvic health physiotherapy clinic. She is a graduate of the POGP Univ of Bradford course and is a recognised expert in female urogyane pelvic health, bowel dysfunction, post natal trauma, male pelvic health and paediatric bowel & bladder. She is one of the few pelvic health physios who works extensively in all 3 areas of pelvic health practice ( Female, male and paediatric ). Lisa has also a lot of experience in training and mentoring other physiotherapists new to pelvic health and also those requiring updates or returning to practice. She has also worked alongside Gerard ( Greene ) to build one of the UK's busiest multi specialist pelvic health physiotherapy clinics.