**Therapy and Outcome**

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**Chapter 7**

**Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation in Anal Incontinence**

Anal incontinence (AI) tends to be underreported to health professionals due to cultural aspects, embarrassment, mistaken perception that it is a normal consequence of aging, or

Maintenance of continence is essential for the normal functioning of individuals. Continence disturbances may contribute to the development of introverted behaviors, resulting in social isolation from family and friends, and may lead some people to seek help from health professionals. Elderly persons with fecal incontinence (FI) usually seek professional help or institutionalization because of precarious housing conditions, poor relationships with their partner and family members (caregivers or not), impaired cognition, presence of debilitating

If not treated, the frequency of incontinent episodes and the amount lost increase, leading to foul odor, wet or soiled clothes, and even falls associated with fractures and death in more severe cases. Sexually active older women may fear having incontinent episodes during sexual activity, resulting in distress and sexual abstinence[1]. People only seek professional help when feeling very uncomfortable with their condition. However, health professionals may or not may be sensitive to the concerns of patients, meaning that some patients receive information

Thus, although AI poses no immediate health risk, several studies have reported the negative impact of this condition on quality of life, leading to social isolation, concerns, decreased selfesteem and embarrassing situations [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. Besides sociocultural aspects,

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diseases, and financial difficulties, which seem to play a major role in their decision.

Claudia Regina de Souza Santos, Tania das Graças de Souza Lima,

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/57364

**1. Introduction**

Fernanda Mateus Queiroz Schmidt and Vera Lúcia Conceição de Gouveia Santos

because it causes little discomfort to the patient.

and treatment while others do not.

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter
