Why is BM important?
Paralysis often damages the nerves that control the bowel
The best way to prevent bowel accidents is to follow a schedule.
You need to teach your bowels when to have a movement.
“Establishing an effective bowel program is critical, because incontinence may interfere with
a patient’s physical, psychological, social, recreational and sexual function”
(DeLisa + Kirshblum 1997)
Psychological impact
“After loss of mobility, loss of bowel control is the next most distressing aspect of SCI”
(Glickman and Kamm 1995)