The therapy for the pediatric pelvic floor is aimed at correcting the bladder-voiding dysfunction in children, it involves the use of biofeedback to help the child gain control over his/her pelvic floor muscles so that he/she can empty the bladder more efficiently and therefore avoid bedwetting at night or accidental leakage during the day.
Bedwetting and incontinence become an issue during the toddler years and at times if the condition is not addressed extends even to adolescence which can have devastating effects on the self-esteem and confidence of the child. Newborns have reflex bladder and bowel emptying, in other words, when the bladder or rectum fills up, it quickly empties.
It is a reflex or spastic emptying that requires little cognitive thought (brain power). That is why babies’ diapers are frequently wet and full. Their formula and breast milk diet also play a significant role in their frequent bowel movements. The infant’s diet changes as they grow into toddlers, and their bowel movements become bulkier. They are also learning about their bodily functions and experimenting with holding their urine and stool.
Natural growth and the ability to hold both urine and stool will result in fewer wet and dirty diapers. The bladder may be stretched, but holding will cause the large intestine to be stretched (colon). As a result, their capacity to hold more is increased, and the intervals between bladder and bowel emptying become longer. Toddlers may avoid urinating or having bowel movements to avoid having their diapers changed (young children are probably smarter than we realize). Diaper rashes can be painful, especially when in contact with urine or stool.
As a result, diaper rashes may cause a child to hold his urine or stool for a longer period. Psychologists believe that toddlers hold their urine and stool because they lack control over two of the few things they can control. There are probably some valid psychological explanations for why some children have control issues and hold their urine and stool, but discussing these issues with very young children is impractical.
To be honest, regardless of any psychological explanations, if a toddler develops problems due to abnormal potty habits (specifically stool holding), they must be corrected through therapy for the pediatric pelvic floor.
When Do You Need Therapy for Pediatric Pelvic Floor?
There is no accurate answer as to when a child should have therapy for the pediatric pelvic floor, but if daytime incontinence, bedwetting, and constipation are normal occurrences in your children, then that should be a clear indication that something is not right.
When children try potty training, they learn several processes that should lead to normal bladder and bowel functions. To store urine, the bladder relaxes and holds relatively large volumes of urine under low pressure, much like a balloon. Bladder pressure does not begin to rise significantly until the bladder is nearly full.
The sphincter muscles that wrap around the urethra are tight while the bladder is storing urine, preventing urine leakage. There are two sphincter muscles: one that cannot be tightened or controlled by a child and one that can. When a woman tightens her pelvic or lower abdominal muscles, she is contracting one of these sphincters.
When the bladder is full, there is a strong desire to urinate. The urge can be suppressed by contracting one of the sphincters, giving you enough time to use the restroom. When one goes potty, the sphincter muscles relax, and the bladder muscle contracts and empties.
Bowel movements are similar, but sometimes straining is required to move the stool into the rectal area, which then requires some relaxation and dilation of the anus to allow stool flow. To effectively empty both urine and stool, the pelvic muscles that control the sphincter must be relaxed. When finished using the toilet, the bladder and lower bowel empty any residual urine or stool by contracting and relaxing the pelvic and sphincter muscles.
Once you are done using the bathroom, the pelvic muscles and sphincters will reestablish the tone needed to store urine and stool again. This natural process is a very efficient method of emptying and storing urine and stool. The most effective urination may occur during a bowel movement, when we pee and poop, then pee and poop again until empty.
To summarize, the sphincter muscles remain tight as the bladder stores urine. When you start urinating, your pelvic muscles relax, and your bladder contracts to push the urine out. This is similar to having a bowel movement. Sadly, due to bladder and bowel voiding dysfunction, more and more children are not learning how to properly empty their bladders. The therapy for the pediatric pelvic floor hoped to effectively treat the voiding dysfunction.
How Does Therapy for Pediatric Pelvic Floor Work?
The problem of incontinence both for urine and bowel movement has been around for years and although bedwetting in adults seems to get all the controversy, it is necessary to understand that bad potty habits will lead to bladder dysfunction which can be effectively treated with therapy for the pediatric pelvic floor.
The therapy is carried out by licensed physical therapists who specialize in pediatrics, at first the child will be hooked into the biofeedback monitor through two external stickers. This will enable the therapist to monitor the responses of the patient during the therapy session. After which the child will be instructed to tighten, shorten, or lengthen the pelvic floor muscles, as well as rest and protrude the muscles.
This will help the child gain control over the pelvic floor muscles and at the end of the therapy be able to empty their bladders more fully. After which, the physical therapist will also instruct the child to push and lengthen the pelvic floor to induce bowel movement which can help treat constipation.
At the same time, exercises on how to use one’s breath during a bowel movement can help the child do the process more effectively. This would mean that children will be able to control accidental leakage, bedwetting, and constipation with just one therapeutic procedure and without the use of medication and other substances.