A program for assisting adult patients to reestablish regular bowel habits. Patients with chronic constipation, colostomies, fecal incontinence, or spinal cord injuries affecting the muscles involved in defecation may benefit from bowel training. Assessments include determining the etiology and duration of the bowel problem, the normal pattern, the use of enemas, suppositories, or laxatives to promote bowel evacuation, and the patient’s mental status and ability to cooperate with the planned program. Interventions include dietary changes (esp. increased intake of dietary fiber), supervised training to elicit evacuation at convenient times (esp. after meals), biofeedback, kegel exercises (to strengthen anorectal and pelvic muscles), and psychotherapy.