Pelvic PT for kids? by Dr. Hailey Jackson

 

You’re probably aware of the common symptoms that warrant treatment from a pelvic PT; anything bladder, bowel, or sexual dysfunction related, as well as any pregnancy, postpartum or orthopedic ailments. But what about for children? Pediatric pelvic PT is a niche near and dear to my heart, as I truly believe there is no better time to treat symptoms, weakness, or dysfunction than childhood, as this is an opportunity to set the child up for longterm beneficial health habits. 

 

By age 4, 90% of children have control of their bladder and bowel and have very few accidents. But this is not the case for the remaining 10%, and can cause anxiety for the child and lead to decreased engagement in social events/sleepovers/sports. So, what are symptoms and dysfunctions I see and treat in the pediatric population? 

 

Stress urinary incontinence— nope, it’s not just a postpartum or post-menopause symptom, it happens in childhood and affects confidence and things like playing on the playground at recess. 

 

Constipation— this is prevalent in 5-30% of children, and peaks in toddlers. 

Bedwetting— in addition to putting a strain on parents, this can be sign of dysfunction occurring in other systems in the body, and should be addressed. 

Encopresis— or the repeated passing of stool onto clothing can also be a sign of dysfunction occurring elsewhere in the body, and there is no better time to address this than childhood. 

 

Core, glute, and hip weakness— this will sometimes show up as W sitting. Strengthening the glute and core musculature will additionally address the above symptoms and dysfunctions and be proactive in mitigating pain later in life.