Understanding Bowel Dysfunction for the Novice to Intermediate Pelvic Floor PT
Hosted by Pelvic Health SIG
Virtual
Whether you’re new to treating bowel-related complaints or looking to build confidence in this area, this webinar offers a clear, practical introduction to managing patients with constipation, IBS, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and fecal incontinence. You’ll review key anatomy and physiology, learn evidence-based treatment strategies, and gain practical tools you can immediately apply in practice to better support your patients with bowel dysfunction.
Eligible for 2 continuing competency points
This webinar gives an introduction to common bowel related complaints including IBS, constipation, chronic anal fissures, fecal incontinence, and hemorrhoids and presents treatment considerations for the patient presenting to pelvic floor PT for their bowel related concerns. We will review relevant anatomy and physiology of the anus, rectum, and pelvic floor and will discuss evidence-based strategies to manage the above conditions, as well as clinical pearls from Kim’s seven years of experience treating this population.
Often bowel related diagnoses co-exist in patients presenting with a different primary complaint. An estimated 9 to 20% of Americans experience chronic constipation and up to 50% of American adults have experienced hemorrhoid symptoms in their lifetime. Effective management of bowel related pelvic health conditions can have a significant impact on a patient’s overall quality of life and, if present, treatment should be considered as part of a comprehensive approach. The target audience should have a basic understanding of pelvic floor anatomy and function and should be comfortable discussing bowel related considerations.
Presented by Kimberly Norton, PT, DPT
Dr. Kimberly Norton (formerly Buonomo) earned her DPT from Northeastern University in 2016. She started her career in a combined orthopedic and aquatic therapy practice and transitioned to a primarily pelvic health practice in 2018. She has worked at Weeks Wellness since April 2025.
She has extensive lecturing experience, including volunteering as a teaching assistant for the Advanced Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes course in Bethesda, MD in 2019, and she lectured and treated patients in Nairobi, Kenya with the Jackson Clinics Foundations’ “Train One, Teach Many” project in 2022. She has served as a clinical mentor for fledgling pelvic health providers both locally and internationally.
Kim has a particular interest in the treatment of bowel related pelvic floor dysfunction due to her personal journey with Crohn’s disease. She lights up when she can help someone understand how the pelvic floor muscles work and how it affects their specific symptoms and loves educating patients, students, and other providers on all things pelvic health.