Bed wetting, medically known as nocturnal enuresis, is a common and often frustrating issue that many children and their parents face. Multiple things can contribute to bedwetting such as developmental delays, muscle weakness and constipation. During an initial examination, a pelvic floor therapist will assess a child’s pelvic floor externally by means of examining motor control, strength, pelvic alignment, diaphragm and ribcage, postural control and balance.

A thorough history will be collected to get a full picture of the child including questions pertaining to the current problem, past medical history, school setting and daily routine, history of bowel and bladder issues in the family and if the child feels the urge to go to the toilet. The answers to these questions will help guide the physical therapist to choosing the proper treatment for the child.

Treatment will include manual therapy such as postural alignment and neuromuscular facilitation as well as a lot of education for the parent and patient such as –

• Establishing a voiding schedule for the child – having the child go in regular intervals will help establish a routine and reduce chances of nighttime accidents
• Decreasing dietary irritants – surgery drinks and soda can cause the bladder to contract a little more causing the child to need to go to the bathroom more often
• Increasing fluid intake – water should be drunk frequently throughout the day
• Completion of a bladder and bowel diary – this will help in finding a possible source for urinary leakage

Because each child is so unique, a combination of treatments is often necessary to effectively address bedwetting. Pelvic floor therapists tailor their approach to the individual needs of the child and work closely with other health care providers to get the child the help they need. If your child is experiencing bedwetting, call us for a free consultation to discuss their next steps today!