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Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction, Pain, and other disorders of the pelvis can affect children as well as adults. Pediatric Pelvic Physical Therapy uses unique therapy techniques to treat disorders involving the pelvis and pelvic floor muscles that may cause poo or pee problems, leakage, pelvic girdle dysfunctions and pain. Listed blow are common complaints and conditions that are treated in Pelvic Physical Therapy for children.

Pelvic Physical Therapy

for Children

Urinary or Bladder Conditions
Urinary kids

  • Frequent UTI's – this is often associated with either constipation or bowel struggles, incomplete bladder emptying, or coordination/tension issues often involving the pelvic floor muscles

  • Enuresis – daytime urinary leakage

  • Incomplete Bladder Emptying – urinary retention due to obstruction or impaired bladder functioning

  • Interstitial Cystitis (aka Bladder Pain Syndrome or Painful Bladder Syndrome) – Persistent or recurrent chronic pelvic pain, pressure or discomfort perceived to be related to the urinary bladder accompanied by at least one other urinary symptom

  • Nocturnal Enuresis – night-time bedwetting

  • Overactive Bladder – urinary urgency and frequency that can be associated with incontinence

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse – (described above) includes cystocele or bladder prolapse, rectocele or posterior vaginal wall prolapse, uterine prolapse, urethrocele or urethral prolapse, and rectal prolapse

  • Urinary Urgency – a compelling need or abnormally strong urge to urinate which is difficult to defer (can cause pain, pressure, or discomfort). This can be associated with incontinence.

  • Urinary Frequency – urinating more frequently than is considered normal (>10x/day)

  • Urinary Retention- complaint of the inability to pass urine despite persistent effort

  • Urinary Incontinence – involuntary urinary leakage (includes urge, stress, and mixed incontinence) either with a strong urge to urinate, during a cough/sneeze/jumping/exercise, or all of the above! Pee leakage is common in children DOES NOT have to be the norm!

  • Withholding behaviors – withholding poo or pee can often be a sign of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and can lead to prolonged issues such as prolonged bed-wetting, constipation or poo smearing, and day leakage

Bowel Conditions
bowel

  • Bowel Difficulties – poop problems such as sensation of incomplete emptying, straining for bowel movement, having to splint or push to have a bowel movement, poor bowel motility, and many more

  • Constipation – difficulty in emptying or reduced bowel movements

  • Dyssynergic Defecation or Paradoxical Contraction – (previously known as anismus)- improper coordination of pelvic floor during defecation

  • Encopresis – involuntary loss of stool typically with stool impaction (constipation)

  • Fecal Incontinence – involuntary stool leakage. This can include smearing, full loss of bowel movement, or loss of poop when stools are loose.

  • ​Hirschsprung Disease – condition affecting the colon resulting in problems passing stool

  • Imperforate Anus – an anorectal malformation present at birth

  • Incomplete Bowel Emptying – stool retention and sensation of unfinished or incomplete bowel movements 

  • Withholding behaviors – withholding poo or pee can often be a sign of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and can lead to prolonged issues such as prolonged bed-wetting, constipation or poo smearing, and day leakage

Pelvic Pain Conditions
PPain

  • Abdominal or Groin Pain – pain experienced in any portion of the abdominal region or groin/inner thigh region

  • Anorectal Pain – pain experienced in any portion anus or rectum present in both males and females

  • Coccydynia – pain in the tailbone

  • Dysmenorrhea – painful periods

  • Levator Ani Syndrome – pain or discomfort in the region of the rectum, sacrum, or tailbone which can be associated or aggravated by sitting

  • Pelvic or Genital Pain aka Myofascial Pelvic Pain – pain experienced in any portion of the pelvic region or genital region in both males and females

  • Pudendal Neuralgia – pain or discomfort in the pudendal nerve region (perineum, rectum, and/or clitoris/penis)

  • Vulvodynia – pain, burning, itching, or discomfort in the vulvar region (around the opening of the vagina) often with no identifiable cause

Other Conditions

  • Dysmenorrhea – painful periods

  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – connective tissue disorder that can cause muscle pain, muscle tension, weakness of pelvic muscles

  • Endometriosis – painful condition where normal endometrial tissue or lesions are found outside the uterus

  • ​Hirschsprung Disease – condition affecting the colon resulting in problems passing stool

  • Imperforate Anus – an anorectal malformation present at birth

  • Interstitial Cystitis (aka Bladder Pain Syndrome or Painful Bladder Syndrome) – Persistent or recurrent chronic pelvic pain, pressure or discomfort perceived to be related to the urinary bladder accompanied by at least one other urinary symptom

  • Pudendal Neuralgia – (mentioned above) pain or discomfort in the pudendal nerve region (perineum, rectum, and/or clitoris/penis

  • Tailbone Pain or Injury – any injury (typically falling on bottom) causing pain at tailbone that typically increases with sitting 

  • Tethered Cord – typically these children are seen after de-tethering surgery if bowel or bladder symptoms remain

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