Pediatric Pelvic Health Rehabilitation

About This Treatment

Pelvic health rehabilitation seeks to resolve issues caused by pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic floor dysfunction refers to a variety of diagnoses related to bowel and bladder function associated with the pelvis.

The pelvic floor is made up of muscles that form a "hammock" in the base of the pelvis, from the pubic bone to the tailbone. Pelvic floor muscles function to support organs in the abdomen and pelvis, help with bladder and bowel control and allow for activities like playing and running. Problems may sometimes occur when these muscles are over-active, under-active, weak, tight or spasm. The tissues surrounding the pelvic floor organs may have increased sensitivity and irritation or decreased sensitivity. While these issues are known to be common in older adults, children are also susceptible to pelvic floor dysfunction. 

Signs and Symptoms

• Urinary incontinence (loss of urine)
• Urinary urgency (constant/strong need to urine)
• Urinary frequency (urinating over eight times in a 24-hour period)
• Urinary retention (not fully emptying bladder)
• Fecal urgency, frequency and/or retention
• Bowel incontinence, pain with defecation, inability to empty bowels
• Excessive gas, abdominal bloating
• Constipation, diarrhea with or without soiling/staining
• Bedwetting
• Daytime leaking

When to consider Pediatric Pelvic Health Rehabilitation

Children are, typically, toilet trained by age six with only very occasional wetting. If a child is still experiencing bowel or bladder incontinence or constipation from the age of five or older, it is considered a medical problem that can have major effects on the quality of life for both the child and his or her family.