A Parent’s Guide to Pediatric Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

Understanding Pelvic Floor Dysfunction In Children

Think of your child's pelvic floor as a supportive hammock. When it functions optimally, it provides the necessary support and control. When there's dysfunction, that hammock might be too tight, too weak, or uncoordinated. This can manifest in various ways:

Bladder issues: Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis), daytime urinary frequency or urgency, leakage with activities that put pressure on the bladder such as coughing or jumping, giggle incontinence, difficulty emptying the bladder completely and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Bowel issues: Constipation, fecal soiling (encopresis), and difficulty having complete and comfortable bowel movements.

Pelvic pain: Unexplained pain in the lower abdomen or genital area, which can be related to pelvic floor muscle tension.

Did You Know?

• Studies show a strong correlation between chronic constipation and pelvic floor dysfunction in children.

• Resolving constipation is often a crucial first step in successfully treating pelvic floor dysfunction in children.

The Power Of Pediatric Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

Pediatric pelvic health physiotherapists focus on treating children with pelvic floor dysfunction. They use non-invasive, child-friendly techniques and exercises. Here's how they can help:

Assessment: Therapists try to understand your child’s symptoms through a detailed parent and child history-taking, external assessment of the pelvic floor region, and if needed, a bladder diary to analyze daily fluid intake and output and bowel movement habits.

Biofeedback Tools: Real-time ultrasound and surface EMG may also be used to help your child train their pelvic floor muscles. Surface EMG utilizes small sensors placed on the skin to measure the electrical activity of the pelvic floor muscles. These sensors are connected to a monitor where a child can play a game: for example, by contracting their pelvic floor, they lift up the airplane, and by relaxing the pelvic floor, they lower the airplane.

Personalized Exercise Program: Tailored exercises that focus on pelvic floor muscles to improve strength, coordination, and relaxation for better bladder and bowel control along with fun exercises that promote better postural and core control.

Bladder and Bowel Retraining: Therapists help encourage healthy toileting habits such as advice for scheduled voids and proper defecation techniques.

Pain Management: Techniques focused on improving breathing mechanics, stretch and relaxation, and abdominal massage can help ease discomfort.

A Holistic Approach

Pediatric pelvic floor physiotherapy addresses the emotional and social impacts associated with these challenges. The right therapist should foster a positive environment to help reduce anxiety and stress as children often feel frustrated or embarrassed by their symptoms.

Seeking professional support shows dedication to your child's well-being. Pediatric pelvic health physiotherapy offers a safe space to tackle these challenges. By investing in this therapy, you're helping your child develop healthy habits, build body awareness, and enjoy a childhood free from the limitations of pelvic floor dysfunction.

Article written By Candice Kwok