What is Paediatric Pelvic Health?

Paediatric pelvic health physiotherapy is a specialised field for children who are typically over the age of 5 years, complaining of dysfunction relating to the pelvis. Commonly, most are concerned with bladder and bowel function with conditions including: chronic constipation, daytime wetting, bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis), faecal incontinence (encopresis) and pelvic pain syndromes.

These conditions can often leave the child feeling embarrassed and anxious, often placing limitations on them socially. Pelvic health physiotherapists are trained to support these children and their families. Assessments usually involve physiotherapists getting to know the child alongside their caregiver and a physical assessment may be used to devise a plan for their individual needs.  

Physical assessments can be associated with the child’s general physical development, including strength and flexibility, and if available, an external transabdominal real time ultrasound (RTUS) may be used. In pelvic physiotherapy, RTUS is used as a biofeedback tool to assess the functioning of the bladder, bowel and surrounding pelvic floor muscles. It can also be useful to help educate the child and their caregiver on the structures of the pelvis.

Physiotherapy treatment may include education regarding the nature of the condition, biofeedback, muscle retraining and manual therapy to help support and optimise bladder and bowel health. Your physiotherapist will often work alongside your general practitioner or paediatrician to improve outcomes and make sure any necessary testing has been done prior to commencing therapy.