Physiotherapy for Pelvic Health in Children
Physiotherapy Pelvic Health Assessment
Physiotherapy for children pelvic health (sometimes also called pediatric pelvic floor physiotherapy) focuses on the development and/or retraining of optimal core and pelvic floor functions. Your/your child's Physiotherapy experience may include:
- Use of play-based, non-invasive techniques to assess pelvic floor function.
- Help with toileting habits, posture, breathing, and muscle coordination.
- Education, bladder/bowel retraining, and pelvic floor exercises.
- Fun games to do at home to continue to improve breathing mechanics, muscle recruitment and coordination, muscle strength, and balance skills.
- Support for children with neurological, developmental, sensory, or musculoskeletal conditions affecting pelvic health.
- If indicated and requested, internal assessment and some biofeedback intervention is available.
**Pelvic Health Physiotherapy requires additional training and only physiotherapists certified offer this service.**
Conditions Physiotherapists May Be Able To Help With
Examples of situations physiotherapy may be able to help with:
- Hirschrung's disease
- Recovery from surgeries in the abdominal, intestinal, or anorectal areas
- Constipation
- Painful bowel movements
- Urinary incontinence (day or night)
- Fecal incontinence
- Withholding of urine or stools
- Pelvic pain
- Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
- Variations in toilet training requiring neurodiversity-affirming care
- Variations in toileting due to a neurological or genetic diagnosis (e.g. CP, Down's syndrome, etc.)
Physiotherapy Treatment
Treatment may include:
- Caregiver and child education
- Pelvic floor / core muscles strength and coordination training or retraining
- Posture and breathing
- Training optimal evacuation techniques
- Support to establish health bladder and bowel routines