By Lauren Breen

Pediatric Pelvic Health

Pelvic health concerns include constipation, fecal and urinary incontinence, bedwetting, urinary tract infections and urinary symptoms such as frequency, painful urination, or difficulty emptying. These are not often talked about, but are very commonly seen in pediatrics. 

• In fact, 5-10% of children under the age of 10 experience bedwetting which can extend into their teen years. 
• There is an extremely high prevalence of constipation, which can  lead to urinary issues as well.
• It has been found that 50% of children who are treated with medication alone for constipation will continue to report constipation at 5 year follow ups.

Despite the prevalence, many children are unable to access or get treatment for their concerns. Physical therapy in combination with medical treatments has been shown to be extremely effective in treating pediatric pelvic health conditions.

How Can PTs Help?

Our approach is customized to each individual child and family to give them a step by step plan detailing how to address their pelvic health concerns.

At the initial visit, we will do a thorough review of your child’s history with toileting and pelvic health.  We also review their general medical history, home and school environments, daily activities, etc. to get a whole picture of your child’s life.

From there, we will then create a treatment plan.  The treatment plan includes voiding schedules, adjustments to how your child is positioned on the toilet, exercises, massage, diet recommendations, breathing techniques and more.

 We will also explain in child-friendly terms how your body works and what your child can do to help. Our goal is to empower your child and your family to feel they can and will gain control of their pelvic health and help you each step along the way.

Who Would Benefit from Pelvic Health Intervention?

A variety of children can benefit from a pediatric pelvic health visit. Generally, constipation and incontinence symptoms are most effectively treated in children 5 years of age and older. However, we can provide recommendations for younger children as well. 

Ask yourself the following questions…

• Does your child struggle with constipation?
• Does your child bed-wet when dry during the day or previously was dry at night?
• Does your child require a pull-up or pads in their underwear past the age of 4?
• Does your child have the following urinary symptoms: frequency, urgency, pain or difficulty emptying their bladder?
• Does your child have urine leakage with everyday activities (play time, sneezing, coughing, etc)?
• Does your child have stool staining or accidents?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your child would be a candidate for pelvic health evaluation and possible intervention. 

If you are unsure of how your child may do in therapy or have any additional questions, please reach out for a connection call. We are happy to assist you and answer any further questions you may have. https://conquertherapyservices.com/contact-us/ 

You can also check out more on our pelvic health program page. https://conquertherapyservices.com/pelvic-health/ 

We look forward to hearing from you soon and helping your family achieve your individual pediatric pelvic health goals.