How can you improve the quality of life for children dealing with bladder and bowel incontinence?
Did you know that chronic constipation is the cause of the majority of incontinence cases? When kids enter school or change routines for the summer, their bladder and bowel habits change significantly. Potty routines, meal times, novel environments, and decreased activity levels are all affected. This can influence many kids to begin stool withholding, which then contributes to functional constipation. Basic bodily functions, anatomy and the mechanisms behind chronic constipation are not taught in schools or at home. We need to learn the basics for ourselves to pass on to our children! Can physical therapy really help? Call today for [...]
Core Strength for Kids — Why Does It Matter?
Building strong core muscles in our kids is key to nurturing a healthy foundation for their future well-being! Let's talk about why core strength in children is crucial for the health of their pelvic floors! *The pelvic floor muscles are a vital part of the body that support our bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. Strengthening the core helps maintain pelvic floor integrity, reducing the risk of issues like fecal and/or urinary incontinence. *A strong core contributes to better posture and balance, which is fundamental for preventing falls and injuries in active kids. We also need good posture and balance [...]
When Should You Seek Help for Your Child’s Bedwetting?
The International Children's Continence Society (ICCS) provides guidelines for various pediatric urological conditions, including bedwetting (also known as enuresis). While specific recommendations may vary depending on the child's age and individual circumstances, the general guidelines for seeking medical help for bedwetting typically include: Age of the child: If a child is 6 years old or older and still experiencing bedwetting, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for an evaluation. Emotional impact: If the child is bothered by his or her bedwetting and it is causing emotional distress, embarrassment, or other psychological issues even if the child is under [...]
Tips for Potty Training — Get Acquainted With the Bristol Stool Scale
Attention parents potty training children! Did you know constipation can commonly occur during potty training? Several factors could contribute to this. Firstly, kiddos might feel a bit anxious or stressed about the whole potty training process, which can lead to holding back their bowel movements. Secondly, they may not fully understand the urge to go or how to relax their muscles to let it all out. Here is a tool to help! Introducing the Bristol Stool Scale: It is like a map for your child's poop journey. This scale classifies stool into different types, ranging from type 1 (hard lumps) [...]
Get Dry, Stay Active!
Peeing when you laugh, jump or run doesn’t just happen to adults! Plenty of teenagers deal with stress incontinence that shows up during cheer practice, gymnastic routines, track meets, you name it. Kids are active and shouldn’t be held back due to embarrassment from leakage! If this scenario sounds familiar to you, give us a call to get treatment before the next school year starts!
No more poop smears!
If you child consistently has skid marks in their underwear, we understand how frustrating and overwhelming it can be. Here’s some good news: pelvic floor physical therapy can help! Encopresis, or fecal incontinence, can often be caused by weak or dysfunctional pelvic floor muscles. By working with a pelvic floor physical therapist, your child can learn exercises and techniques to improve pelvic floor muscle function and reduce symptoms of encopresis. Don’t let encopresis hold your child back any longer! Contact a pelvic floor physical therapist today to learn more about how we can help! Get this problem taken care of [...]
At What Age Should Bedwetting Be Treated?
At What Age Should Bedwetting Be Treated? The most common answer to bedwetting is wait, the child will out grow it. That may be the easiest answer but often doesn’t work. When your child is still wetting the bed or having daytime leaks at 7, 12 or into their teens, what do you do then? Dr. Steve Hodges is an Associate Professor of Pediatric Urology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He is an expert in enuresis, encopresis, and toilet training. His article addresses his views on incontinence after the age of 4. Treat Bedwetting at age 4, [...]
World Continence Week — You’re Not Alone!
World Continence Week -- You're Not Alone! Incontinence sounds like a complicated word only used in nursing homes or hospitals. However, a quarter to a third of men and women in the U.S. are struggling with urinary incontinence! Did you know celebrities such as Katy Perry and Stephen King actually suffered from incontinence? World Continence Week, taking place on the last week of June each year, is a time to not only raise awareness about incontinence, but end the stigma and shame that surrounds it. People suffer from incontinence for all reasons, and most wouldn’t think of physical [...]
“What’s wrong with children?” Pediatric Incontinence and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
“What's wrong with children?” Pediatric Incontinence and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction By Dawn Sandalcidi, PT, RCMT, BCB-PMD As pelvic health physical therapists we take care of people suffering from bladder and bowel incontinence and/or dysfunction as well as pre-natal/post-partum, back pain, weak core muscles and pelvic pain. I was approached over 30 years ago by a urologist to take care of his pediatric patients. My reply: “What’s wrong with children?” It’s been a whirlwind of learning since that day! Pediatric pelvic floor dysfunction is common and can have significant consequences on quality of life for the child and the family, as well as negative health consequences [...]
The Psychological Effects of Bed-wetting, Daytime Urinary and Fecal Incontinence
The Psychological Effects of Bed-wetting, Daytime Urinary and Fecal Incontinence By Dawn Sandalcidi, PT, RCMT, BCB-PMD A regular referring pediatrician called me one morning to tell me about an 11-year-old boy who hung himself secondary to fecal incontinence and persistent teasing by his siblings and peers. Her comment to me was “If his parents only knew about the services you offer this child’s life may have been spared.” That was over 10 years ago and to this day I still get emotional just thinking about it. Children who suffer from constipation with or without encopresis (fecal incontinence), daytime [...]
