Pediatric Pelvic Floor Therapy
Great Strides in Bartram Park in Jacksonville, FL offers specialized pediatric pelvic floor therapy to help children with toileting challenges. Our team understands how difficulties with bladder and bowel control can impact a child’s daily life, confidence, and independence. Through evidence-based therapy techniques, our pediatric specialists focus on strengthening and coordinating the pelvic floor muscles to improve bathroom habits, reduce accidents, and support overall healthy function. Whether your child is struggling with constipation, making it to the bathroom in time, or delayed toileting milestones, our compassionate therapists provide personalized care in a supportive, child-friendly environment. Families throughout Jacksonville trust Great Strides Bartram Park for expert toileting support and pediatric pelvic floor therapy designed to help children thrive.
What is pediatric pelvic floor therapy?
Pediatric pelvic floor therapy is a specialized type of physical or occupational therapy that focuses on strengthening, relaxing, and coordinating the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles play a big role in controlling bladder and bowel function. For children who experience constipation, urinary leakage, bedwetting, or toilet training delays and regression after success, pelvic floor therapy helps retrain the muscles to work properly. The therapy is gentle, child-centered, and always adapted to each child’s age, comfort, and developmental needs.
What kinds of problems can pediatric pelvic floor therapy help with?
Therapy can address a wide range of toileting challenges, including:
- Chronic constipation or painful bowel movements
- Daytime urinary accidents or leakage
- Bedwetting (enuresis)
- Difficulty emptying the bladder completely
- Frequent urinary tract infections caused by poor emptying
- Delayed toilet training
- Withholding behaviors or fear of using the bathroom
By focusing on muscle coordination, healthy bathroom habits, and education, therapy helps children and families manage these issues successfully.
How do therapists work with children during pelvic floor sessions?
Sessions are designed to be comfortable, encouraging, and age-appropriate. Therapists may use:
- Games, visuals, or biofeedback tools to help children understand how their muscles work
- Breathing and posture techniques to promote relaxation and better toileting habits
- Gentle exercises to strengthen or relax the pelvic floor
- Education for both parents and children on healthy bathroom routines, hydration, and diet
Children are never forced to do anything uncomfortable, and therapy is always tailored to their needs.
How long does it take to see results?
Every child is different, but many families begin noticing improvements within a few weeks of consistent therapy and practice at home. The length of treatment depends on the severity of the issue, the child’s age, and how consistently recommendations are followed at home. Some children may only need a few sessions, while others benefit from longer-term support.
Do parents participate in therapy?
Absolutely! Parents play a key role in pediatric pelvic floor therapy. Therapists guide families on how to support bathroom routines at home, track progress, and encourage healthy habits. Parents are educated throughout the process so they feel confident helping their child between sessions.
If your child is experiencing frequent bathroom accidents, constipation that doesn’t improve with dietary changes, struggles with toilet training beyond the expected age range, or ongoing bedwetting, it may be time to seek help. Early intervention can prevent issues from becoming more stressful or interfering with your child’s daily life.
