Pediatric Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Pediatric pelvic floor physical therapy is for patients ages 4 and up with the goal having a healthier urinary and gastrointestinal system. Bowel and bladder problems in children occur when the pelvic floor muscles are not working together with the bladder and/or bowel, and the normal voiding or emptying reflexes can become disrupted.
Sage Physical Therapy can provide the tools your family needs to take control of your child’s bladder and bowel functions. Using the tools of education and exercise, your child will learn how to utilize the pelvic floor muscles to control elimination by relaxing and strengthening the pelvic floor muscles at the appropriate time to empty completely and avoid leakage.
Common Diagnoses Include:
Nighttime Bedwetting (Enuresis)
Overactive Bladder
Urge & Stress Incontinence
Dysfunctional Voiding
Voiding Postponement
Vaginal Reflux
Increased Daytime Frequency
Bowel Bladder Dysfunction
Constipation
Fecal Incontinence (Encopresis)
Please Note: this is only a partial list of the pelvic floor physical therapy services offer. Contact us if you have questions about your specific discomfort or diagnosis.
What to Expect at Your Visit:
Non-invasive pelvic floor muscle visual evaluation and treatment. (Internal exams of the vagina and rectum are NOT completed by physical therapists in the pediatric population. The physical therapist will visually inspect the perineum to observe the skin, anal reflex, and pelvic floor muscle contraction to see how the muscles are functioning with different tasks).
Education on bladder function. We will ask each patient to complete a 3-day bladder diary to gain more information about diet, hydration, and voiding schedules. This will help us create an individualized schedule to improve bowel and bladder habits.
Biofeedback using Surface Electromyography (SEMG) to learn how to relax and contract the pelvic floor muscles appropriately.
Home exercise program. This may consist of strengthening exercises, stretching, and daily habits that we will ask each child to keep a log of daily completion.
Pediatric Services Offered
Education on diagnosis, fluid intake, timed voiding / bowel schedule
Ensuring proper hygiene (wiping properly)
Biofeedback
Musculoskeletal Techniques
