Pelvic Floor Therapy

 

Involves evaluation, treatment, and management techniques for bowel and bladder dysfunctions. Treatment is aimed at family education, strengthening, balance training, posture education, teaching breathing techniques, and establishing an improved voiding schedule. With children, internal exams are never performed as a part of pediatric pelvic floor PT. All treatments are focused on external cues to help a child have improved bodily awareness when it comes to bowel and bladder voiding.  Fill out the form below to speak to someone about pelvic floor PT.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction 

Refers to a wide range of problems that involve the pelvic floor structures and impact bowel and bladder voiding habits. With children, pelvic floor muscles may be affected by tightness, weakness, high or low tone, sensory-avoidance behaviors, poor voiding habits, toileting posture, neurological conditions, and fluid and/or food intake. Most children should be fully potty trained by age 5, depending on family support and child motivation. Although most children are potty trained well before then, some children continue to struggle with frequent incontinence, pain, or voiding dysfunctions that can impact their emotional, social, and physical well-being.  

What to Expect during a Pelvic Floor Evaluation:

During a pelvic floor evaluation, we'll talk about the child's history, discuss anatomy of digestion, perform a gross motor screen for age-appropriate skills, check leg and core strength, as well as review home exercises. 

Typical Potty Training Milestones: 

As always, there is a wide range of “normal” timing for potty training. It is heavily influenced by a child's motivation, culture, family support, and living environment. 

  • Median age for daytime dryness is 3.5 years old (girls tend to achieve earlier than boys) 

  • Median age for nighttime dryness is 4 years old (for both boys and girls) 

  • Signs of bladder sensation start around 18 months 

  • Voiding postponement becomes evident between 3-3.5 years old

Pelvic Floor Red Flags: 

Talk to your child’s doctor about pelvic floor PT if your child is experiencing any of the following symptoms: 

  • Accidents after the age of 5 years old 

  • Bed wetting after 5 years old 

  • Painful and infrequent bowel movements 

  • Difficulty with starting potty training (after the age of 4 years old)  

  • Pelvic pain 

  • Sensory-avoidance behaviors related to toileting