Biofeedback

When is biofeedback performed?
Biofeedback is a treatment mainly directed at patients with faecal incontinence, constipation and obstructed defaecation syndrome.

How are patients assessed as being suitable for biofeedback?
This decision is based on reviewing you in clinic, identifying your symptoms, performing a clinical examination and specialist tests. There is no special preparation for biofeedback. You can eat and drink normally on the day of biofeedback. You do not need to empty your bowels before coming up for biofeedback.

What does biofeedback involve?
The physiologist/nurse specialist (Sue Clayton, pictured) will start by giving you some general advice on time spent on the toilet, sitting positions, diet and laxative use. With your consent, the biofeedback nurse will insert a small probe into your anal canal (and/or vagina in women). This is connected to a computer or machine. You will be asked to squeeze and relax your back passage and your progress and muscular effort will appear on the television screen. You will discuss different measures to try to make your squeezing more effective. You will see your improvement as the squeeze effectiveness is “fed back” to you via the computer screen. This might initially be done for 5-10 minutes. You might be given a device or machine to take home to continue these exercises. Sometimes the biofeedback physiologist/nurse might recommend you have several sessions for maximum benefit.

What happens after the biofeedback?
You will be able to drive home/go back to work as soon as soon as the biofeedback session is completed. Around 80% of patients having biofeedback will receive some benefit. If you do not respond to the biofeedback, you will be referred back to your surgeon for review.