What the heck is the Pelvic Floor Anyways?
Have you ever wonder why we don’t walk around having accidents all day? Or why when we cough or sneeze a little pee may leak out? Well, that’s why your pelvic floor is so important! Your pelvic floor is made up of muscles and connective tissue that spans from your pubic bone to your tailbone and is in the shape of a bowl.
Your pelvic floor has 3 main functions:
It supports our pelvic organs (bladder, colon, rectum, uterus). Yep, we don’t want any of those important organs falling out!!
It provides stability. It is such an important part of your CORE and helps to stabilize your hips and trunk in all activity. These muscles work 24 hours/day and 7 days/week!
These muscles control the opening and closing of your bladder and rectum for when we need to pee and poop...or when we don’t want to let wind loose:)
Check out our latest video where Annette explains all about the pelvic floor and what working with a pelvic floor PT is like.
Now you can see how the pelvic floor plays an important role in your child’s bowel and bladder habits. So when should you see a pediatric pelvic floor therapist and what can they do to help? We get this question a lot when working with kids. Annette always point out that EVERYTHING she does during treatment is EXTERNAL. Kids are often fearful of their first visit wondering what we are going to do. Here’s what a typical visit to a pelvic floor therapist looks like.
Posture assessment
Breathing assessment
Observation of your child’s core activation and teaching her how and when to activate her core for a bowel movement
Pelvic floor relaxation and contraction
How to Poop! Yes, there is a proper way to do this
Proper toilet posture Do you have a Squatty Potty in your bathroom yet?
Pelvic floor exercises- make sure to download Annette’s favorite exercise for the pelvic floor here
Biofeedback to help kids understand what their pelvic floor or core muscles should or should not be doing
Some pelvic floor therapists may provide guidance on nutrition, hydration and adjustment of supplements-Thankfully Annette can leave this to the Jess, the expert dietitian in constipation.
Help/guidance with setting up a plan for school or any other activities like camps, sports, or daycare to help your child be successful.
And of course, maybe a little rock wall climbing or obstacle course at the end of the session for fun!
Having issues with your pelvic floor is just one possible cause of constipation, encopresis and enuresis. If you think your child may have pelvic floor dysfunction, please reach out to us to see if we can connect you with a pelvic floor therapist in your area or see our many options for ways that we may be able to help you from afar!
