Topics like constipation and incontinence can be embarrassing for children to talk about, making it challenging for families to seek solutions.
At Shriners Children’s New England, pediatric urologists diagnose and treat conditions of the bladder, urinary tract, kidney and genitalia for boys and girls from birth to early adulthood. They talk with the child to put them at ease and get them to open up about their problem.
The highly trained biofeedback therapy team assists patients facing issues related to pelvic floor dysfunction. They use mind-body techniques to help patients learn to better control the muscles that regulate bladder and bowel function. Biofeedback therapy and targeted lifestyle changes can help patients resolve symptoms and achieve long-term success. To that end, most patients first undergo an electromyography (EMG) uroflow test, which provides information about activating their pelvic floor muscles and bladder function.
“If a patient’s pelvic floor muscles function abnormally when they empty their bladder, it indicates that they need help with relaxation. If a patient has weak pelvic floor muscles and experiences leaking during activities like running and jumping, we know they need assistance with strengthening. Often, kids require both,” explained Caryn France, MSPT, manager of outpatient therapy services at Shriners Children’s New England.
Therapists teach children to control their muscles by instructing them to pull muscles up and in, as well as raise and lower them like an elevator.
Family support is crucial to each patient’s overall success. “Therapy provides the tools, but families, particularly the patients, need to engage in the work to achieve lasting improvement,” said France.
