Does My Child Need Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is often associated with adults, especially during pregnancy and postpartum recovery, but children can have pelvic floor concerns as well. If your child is having ongoing trouble with bowel or bladder function, pediatric pelvic floor physical therapy may be helpful.
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues that supports the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. It also works with the core to support posture and helps coordinate urination and bowel movements. For children, learning to recognize the urge to use the bathroom and coordinate these muscles is part of normal development.
Sometimes that process does not happen as expected, or a child who was doing well begins having symptoms again.
When Should You Consider Pelvic Floor PT for Your Child?
An occasional accident is common, especially in younger children. More persistent symptoms may be a reason to talk with your child’s healthcare provider or a pediatric pelvic floor physical therapist.
Your child may benefit from an evaluation if they experience:
Frequent nighttime waking to urinate
Bedwetting after age 5 or 6
Urinating much more or less frequently than expected
Accidents after previously being potty trained and staying dry
Urinary or bowel incontinence
Difficulty staying dry during the day after age 4
Constipation or stool withholding
Frequent urinary tract infections
A sudden or frequent urge to urinate
Ongoing gas or bloating
These symptoms can have several causes, so an evaluation looks at more than the symptom itself.
Why Do Children Develop Bowel and Bladder Problems?
Bowel and bladder control requires coordination between the pelvic floor, core, and nervous system. A child needs to recognize when their bladder or bowel is full and be able to relax the appropriate muscles when it is time to go to the bathroom.
Differences in physical development or core control can affect this coordination. Diet, hydration, activity levels, bathroom habits, and changes in a child’s routine can also play a role.
Constipation is especially common in children with urinary symptoms. When stool builds up in the bowel, it can put pressure on the bladder. A child who is frequently constipated may also have a harder time recognizing the body’s signals that it is time to use the bathroom.
Because of this connection, improving bowel habits may be part of treatment even when a family’s main concern is urinary accidents or urgency.
What Happens During Pediatric Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
We spend the first session getting to know your child’s history and what their day to day life looks like. We’ll talk with you about their bowel and bladder habits, daily routines, development, and any symptoms you have noticed. We will also complete an age appropriate developmental screen and physical assessment. This helps us identify any concerns with strength, mobility, posture, core control, or muscle coordination that may be contributing to your child’s symptoms.
Based on what we find, we work with you and your child to determine the best course of action. Treatment may include education about bowel and bladder function, coordination exercises, mobility work, strengthening, and changes to bathroom habits or routines.
Some children may also benefit from surface EMG biofeedback. This technology gives children visual feedback about what their pelvic floor muscles are doing. It can help them learn when they are tightening or relaxing these muscles, making pelvic floor coordination easier to understand and practice.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Should Feel Safe and Supportive
Bowel and bladder concerns can be difficult for children to talk about. Accidents, bedwetting, constipation, or urgency may also affect how comfortable they feel at school, during sports, at sleepovers, or in other parts of daily life.
We want kids to feel empowered and more confident in their bodies and families to feel secure in their ability to support their children. Our approach is centered on protecting each child’s privacy and dignity while helping them understand their body. We also work closely with parents and caregivers so they have practical ways to support progress at home.
Children have different developmental needs than adults, and their pelvic floor care should reflect that. Treatment is tailored to the individual child, their comfort level, and what is realistic for their family.
When to Reach Out
If your child is dealing with ongoing constipation, accidents, bedwetting, urgency, stool withholding, or other changes in bowel or bladder function, consider talking with your child’s healthcare provider about whether pelvic floor physical therapy could be appropriate.
At Klein Physical Therapy, located in Denver, Colorado, we use an evidence based, whole body approach to understand what may be contributing to your child’s symptoms. Our goal is to help your child develop better coordination and body awareness while giving your family useful strategies that can carry over into daily life.
If you would like to learn more about pediatric pelvic floor physical therapy or schedule a consultation, contact Klein Physical Therapy.