What is Paediatric Pelvic Health Physiotherapy?
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy is a specialised field of physiotherapy requiring advanced education, with Paediatric Pelvic Health Physiotherapy extending this specialisation even further.
Research shows there is up to 30 percent of children suffer from constipation even with daily bowel motions – 19 percent night wetting and 5.5 percent day wetting. An Australian study has shown that only 34 percent of children and their families seek help. Unfortunately, we see toileting issues severely affecting quality of life, and their issues can carry on into adulthood.
Treatments offered by Paediatric Pelvic Health Physiotherapists
Paediatric Pelvic Health Physiotherapists work with your family and other health providers to formulate a plan specific to each child. Pelvic Health physiotherapists can use tools such as:
- Real time ultrasound and surface EMG biofeedback – to get a picture of how the bladder, bowel and muscles are working.
- Behavioural – role playing, games and apps to break down fears and emotional, cognitive and emotional barriers to toileting.
- Equipment – such as stools, seats and bedwetting alarms.
- Bladder and Bowel diaries – to track bladder and bowel habits and treatment outcomes.
- Interferential therapy – The Medical Super Clinic offers interferential therapy for the treatment of slow colonic transit and your pelvic health physiotherapist will set this up and guide you through home use.
- TENS – for use on the sacrum or leg to help manage overactive bladder and some bowel conditions.
- NO internal exams – Pelvic Physios can gather a lot of information about the pelvic floor just by asking specific questions so an internal genital exam is not required.
What can Pelvic Health Physiotherapy help with?
- Daytime wetting
- Bedwetting (Enuresis)
- Constipation and straining
- Incomplete emptying
- Giggle incontinence
- Toilet training
- Withholding of bladder and bowels
- Overactive bladder
If you would like to learn more or to book an appointment with Phoebe Armfield call 1300 124 333 or book online.
Written by Phoebe Armfield – Specialised Physiotherapist
