An Introductory  Bowel Course with Lisa Hastie

Coventry, West Midlands | Saturday 12th June    2027

Bowel dysfunction is a common but often challenging area of pelvic health practice.

Patients can find it difficult to access high-quality information, assessment and treatment for bowel symptoms, despite the significant impact these conditions can have on quality of life, physical function and confidence.

Physiotherapists have an important role to play in the assessment and management of bowel dysfunction.

This course is designed for pelvic health physiotherapists who want to develop their knowledge, clinical skills and scope of practice in this important area.

It will provide a practical introduction to the assessment and management of bowel dysfunction in both female and male pelvic health patients.

Course Format

All of the core theory will be sent to delegates approximately 3 weeks before the course date, allowing you to complete the learning in your own time before attending.

The face-to-face course will then take place over one full day in Coventry, West Midlands.

Completing the theory beforehand allows the live teaching day to focus much more heavily on practical application, clinical reasoning, hands-on techniques and interactive discussion.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

• Women’s and pelvic health physiotherapists who want to develop their bowel knowledge and clinical skills
• Physiotherapists wanting to expand their scope of pelvic health practice
• Clinicians who already see patients with constipation or bowel dysfunction but want greater confidence with assessment and management
• Physiotherapists returning to pelvic health practice who would benefit from an update
• Clinicians interested in developing their management of both female and male bowel dysfunction

The course is particularly suited to physiotherapists who already have some pelvic health experience and want to develop further expertise in bowel-related presentations.

What Will Be Covered?

What Is Normal?

We will begin by looking at normal bowel function, including:

• The defecation process
• Normal bowel frequency
• Stool consistency

Relevant Anatomy

A practical review of the anatomy relevant to bowel dysfunction, including:

• Levator ani
• Pelvic floor
• Anal sphincter

Common Bowel Conditions Encountered in Practice

The course will explore a range of commonly encountered bowel and anorectal presentations, including:

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

Red Flags

Recognising when symptoms may require medical investigation or onward referral is an important part of bowel assessment.

The course will discuss relevant red flags and the importance of working appropriately within a multidisciplinary pathway.

Ano-Rectal Assessment in Clinical Practice

The course will introduce clinicians to the role of ano-rectal assessment within pelvic health physiotherapy.

The practical teaching will focus on developing greater confidence around assessment, clinical reasoning and interpreting findings to guide treatment.

Treatment & Management Strategies

A range of practical treatment and management approaches will be explored, including:

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

The Multidisciplinary Team

Bowel dysfunction often requires input from a number of different healthcare professionals.

The course will discuss the role of the multidisciplinary team and where pelvic health physiotherapy fits within the wider management of bowel disorders.

A Practical Course Designed to Build Confidence

Bowel dysfunction can feel like a complex area to begin developing within pelvic health practice.

This course is designed to make the subject clinically relevant and practical.

By completing the theory before attending, the live course can focus on applying that knowledge to real clinical situations, developing assessment skills and discussing treatment and management options.

There will be plenty of opportunity throughout the day for clinical discussion, questions and practical learning.

Tutor

Lisa Hastie

Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist

Lisa has over 15 years of pelvic health experience and expertise, including extensive experience within the NHS and specialist pelvic health physiotherapy practice.

She is a graduate of the POGP University of Bradford course and has extensive clinical experience in:

• Female urogynaecological pelvic health
• Bowel dysfunction
• Post-natal trauma
• Male pelvic health
• Paediatric bowel and bladder dysfunction

Lisa is one of the relatively small number of pelvic health physiotherapists who works extensively across female, male and paediatric pelvic health practice.

She also has considerable experience training and mentoring physiotherapists who are new to pelvic health, clinicians looking to update their skills and those returning to pelvic health practice.

Lisa has worked alongside Gerard Greene to help develop one of the UK’s busiest multi-specialist pelvic health physiotherapy clinics.

Course Details

Course: Bowel Dysfunction for Physiotherapists

Tutor: Lisa Hastie

Format: Pre-course theory + one full face-to-face practical day

Pre-Course Learning: Online theory sent approximately 3 weeks before the course

Face-to-Face Teaching: One full day

Location: Coventry, West Midlands

Date: Saturday 12th June 2027 

Course Fee: £297

Places Will Be Limited

Places will be limited to allow plenty of opportunity for practical teaching, interaction, questions and clinical discussion.

If you are looking to develop your confidence in the assessment and management of bowel dysfunction and expand your pelvic health scope of practice, this course will provide a practical and clinically focused introduction.