Improve Your Digestive Health with Physical Therapy

December Newsletter

When it comes to managing digestive issues like IBS or GERD, most people don’t immediately think of physical therapy, opting for dietary changes or medication instead. However, digestive issues are surprisingly complex — and the team at Rising Sun Physical Therapy offers several techniques for improving your digestive health.

To illustrate how effective physical therapy can be at managing digestive problems, we want to share three patient stories (all names have been changed) exploring different PT approaches, including pelvic floor therapy, stress reduction, and more.

Emily’s Journey to IBS Relief: The Role of Pelvic Floor Therapy

Emily had struggled with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for years. Bloating, abdominal pain, and irregular bowel movements had all become a fixture in her life. She tried various diets, medications, and lifestyle changes to no avail.

But then her physician suggested pelvic floor physical therapy, noting that IBS often correlates with dysfunction in the pelvic floor muscles, as these muscles play a role in bowel regulation and abdominal tension.

We created a custom plan for Emily focused on relaxing and strengthening her pelvic floor muscles to reduce cramping and improve her overall bowel function. This plan included therapeutic exercises to work her pelvic floor and various hands-on techniques to relieve tension.

One technique that really helped Emily was visceral manipulation, in which we applied light touch, targeted pressure to the abdomen to reduce tension around organs like the intestines and stomach to restore the natural movements of the internal organs (viscera) and their connective tissues, which might be limited due to the IBS symptoms and compromise the function of the organ.

Visceral manipulation can help individuals with IBS by addressing tissue restrictions, restoring natural organ mobility, and calming the nervous system. This gentle, hands-on therapy improves blood flow, lymphatic drainage, and motility of the intestines, reducing symptoms like bloating, cramping, and abdominal tension. It also supports the gut-brain connection by stimulating the vagus nerve, promoting relaxation and reducing the hypersensitivity often associated with IBS. Additionally, visceral manipulation can alleviate postural imbalances and break the pain-tension cycle, making it a valuable complementary therapy for managing IBS as part of a holistic treatment plan.

Addressing Susan’s GERD by Addressing Susan’s Posture

Susan had recently developed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the medical name for chronic heartburn. Over-the-counter antacids did little to help, and she was certain she’d never find relief — until a friend suggested she try physical therapy.

Why PT? GERD symptoms often worsen with poor posture, especially when the abdominal muscles press against the stomach, pushing acid upward into the esophagus. Susan was a product manager who spent significant time working at her desk, so she definitely had some postural impairments.

We created a postural improvement program for Susan that focused on improving her GERD symptoms. We started by assessing her current posture and providing in-depth corrections to help keep her spine aligned throughout the day.

However, we also created an exercise program to improve Susan’s core strength, including her back muscles, obliques, internal abs — and diaphragm muscles. We don’t often think about our diaphragm muscles, but strengthening them can improve core stability and reduce pressure on the stomach — exactly what happened with Susan.

John’s Story: Combatting Stress-Induced Acid Reflex

John was a high-powered executive who suffered from acid reflux and stomach cramping, especially during busy periods at work (which was most of the time). John knew there was a link between stress and digestive issues, although he didn’t understand why until our therapists explained it to him.

Essentially, stress activates the body’s fight-or-flight response, diverting its resources toward dealing with the potential threat. One of the affected functions is digestion, which slows down and leads to conditions like acid reflux.

We worked with John to create a customized stress reduction program that included tips for incorporating more exercise movement into his day and diaphragmatic breathing exercises to calm his nervous system. Diaphragmatic breathing, often called “deep breathing,” helps activate the body’s relaxation response, countering stress and reducing the production of stomach acid that can trigger reflux.

The exercises we provide are highly individualized, especially when it comes to deep breathing. Many people associate diaphragmatic breathing with simply pushing out their tummy and breathing with forceful vigor, but that’s not what we do. Like what we did with John, we create a personalized breathing program tailored to each individual, based on how they are currently using their body and muscles. Accessing the diaphragm effectively with breath is a very intricate process that requires careful assessment and adjustment to align with each person’s unique needs and patterns. Additionally, we address lifestyle factors, including stress reduction, to create a holistic plan that promotes lasting relief.