I'm 76 and have mild bowel incontinence and IBS. Incontinence runs in phases. Days when I empty completely, I feel fairly confident that I can run errands without protection. Other times, I wear the small butterfly pads. Exercise and gravity are more likely to result in incontinences. I had radiation for endometrial cancer 26 yrs. ago, and I believe that caused the problem. I saw a Dr. at Johns Hopkins for my IBS, and when she heard about the incontinence she sent me for a test to test muscles and nerves. (I forget the name of it). At the end you have to poop out a balloon within 2 minutes. I could not. They recommended physical therapy for pelvic floor. The therapy did help. Actually the therapist said I had a retroceale ( a pocket) in the rectum which pushed into the vagina. This is a lot of the problem. The exercises helped some, and at least she actually examined me physically, and I have some idea what is happening. The idea is to keep the pocket from expanding. I also find that when I am constipated, yet feel I need to go more, I will get down on all fours until the urge to go sends me up to the toilet (squatty potty style of course). Mine seems like a mechanical problem. I am on gluten free, dairy free, no alcohol, no caffeine, low fod map diet. Taking fish oil has been a huge help also to lubricate stool expulsion.