How do I know if my child needs pediatric pelvic floor therapy? (and what to expect)
In the past few years there has been a lot more awareness brought to pelvic floor therapy, and we are so excited about that! But did you know that your child may also benefit from pelvic floor therapy? There are quite a few common problems that kids experience that indicate they would benefit from a visit with a pediatric pelvic floor therapist. Pediatric pelvic floor therapy visits also look a little different than adult visits. In this blog, we are going to dive into how to know if your child needs pediatric pelvic floor therapy and what to expect.
Does my child need to see a pediatric pelvic floor therapist?
Here is a list of common problems in kids that could benefit from pediatric pelvic floor therapy.
1. Are they constipated?
Constipation is a bowel dysfunction that makes bowel movements infrequent or hard to pass. The stool is often hard and dry. Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, & feeling as if one has not completely passed the bowel movement.
2. Has your child had belly pain for several days?
More often than not most belly pain in children is caused by constipation.
3. Are they having less than 3 bowel movements per week?
4. Do they strain to have a bowel movement?
5. Do they have pain with bowel movements, making them fearful to attempt them?
If you answered yes to 1 or more of these questions, it would be helpful to see a pediatric pelvic floor therapist.
What can I expect at a pediatric pelvic floor therapy visit?
At the first visit, you and your child will meet with the therapist and discuss the problem your child is having. The therapist will evaluate and assess the problem and will create goals and a treatment plan for your child. Interventions may include play based activity, techniques to use during bowel movements, and education on how fiber and hydration may impact your child. Your child’s goals and treatment plan will be just as unique as your child is! It is important to communicate with your therapist at this visit if you have any concerns about being able to implement the treatment plan at home.
During follow up visits, you will discuss your child’s progress with your therapist and progress activities or adjust your treatment plan depending on how your child is doing. Some children may only need a couple of visits, while others may need a plan of 6-8 total visits over several months. Again, this is unique to your child and will be discussed at the evaluation and adjusted as needed throughout your plan of care.
How do I get started?
Dr. Laura is our pediatric pelvic floor specialist at Absolute Kinetics. She sees children at our office in Collierville, TN, but also offers virtual appointments. You can schedule with her for an in person or virtual visit here. If you want to talk to Dr. Laura and learn more first, you can schedule a free 15 minute consult here.
Curious if your child could benefit from pediatric pelvic floor therapy? Download our free pediatric pelvic floor therapy checklist!