Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

During pelvic floor physical therapy, our physical therapists teach your child how to contract and relax the pelvic floor muscles through computerized training sessions. Together with retraining and exercise, your child will learn how to better control and gain sensory awareness of the muscles that assist with urination and stooling (having a bowel movement).

Who would benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy?

Pelvic floor physical therapy can be used to help treat children with any of the following conditions:

• Daytime or nighttime wetting
• Incomplete bladder emptying
• Urinary retention
• Stooling accidents
• Urinary tract infections
• Vesicoureteral urinary reflux (VUR)
• Constipation and encopresis (leakage of stool)

What happens during a pelvic floor physical therapy session?

Your child’s session will be held in a private room to make sure they feel comfortable. The session will last about 45 to 60 minutes. A physical therapist will place external stickers (leads) on your child’s abdomen and perianal areas (area around the anus). The stickers or leads are then connected to a computer system, which provides visual output as your child plays video games.

The visual output is often referred to as biofeedback, which means information about the body’s response. These video games contain learning modules that help your child exercise and relax the pelvic floor muscles, which helps to teach better toileting habits. Your child will also complete balance, posture and relaxation exercises throughout the session.

Will my child have homework in between sessions?

Your child will need to follow a program at home every day. The program consists of a bathroom schedule, proper hydration (drinking enough liquids) and physical therapy exercises.

Which Children’s Hospital Colorado locations offer pelvic floor physical therapy?

We offer pelvic floor physical therapy at our outpatient office located at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. We have two trained pelvic floor therapists who work closely together as a team to provide private physical therapy sessions to your child.

How many pelvic floor therapy sessions does my child need?

Your child will need about six to 10 sessions of physical therapy to improve overall sensory awareness and voluntary muscle control of the pelvic floor muscles. Your child’s urology or gastrointestinal (GI) provider will need to place a referral before you can schedule appointments.

Why choose Children’s Colorado for pelvic floor therapy?

Our physical therapists specialize in pediatrics. We provide a child-friendly atmosphere during each session to help your child feel comfortable. Our therapists maintain a strong relationship with your child’s healthcare providers. We reach out to them if needed, and we update them on your child’s progress during therapy. Our Department of Pediatric Urology and Digestive Health Institute are also ranked among the best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

How do I schedule an appointment?

Please call 720-777-6655 to schedule six consecutive pelvic floor physical therapy appointments. A pediatrician referral is acceptable in place of the urology or gastroenterologist (GI) specialist referral.