From Damp to Dry: How Pelvic Physical Therapy Can Help Your Child Conquer Bedwetting
By: Katie Kanturek, PT, DPT
Has your child ever come to you in the middle of the night after wetting the bed? While approximately 5–7 million children in the US experience bed wetting, many people don’t know that it can be treated with pelvic physical therapy.
What is enuresis?
Enuresis, most commonly known as bedwetting, is a common childhood condition. It is characterized by the repeated loss of urine in bed or clothes during sleep. Children normally develop nighttime bladder control around the ages of 3-4 and the average age to be dry at night is 4 years old. If bedwetting persists until 5 years or older, then it may be time to talk with your child’s pediatrician and see a pediatric pelvic physical therapist.
Bedwetting can affect several areas of a kid’s life, such as school and their relationships with friends. Frequent bed-wetting episodes can lead to disrupted sleep, causing tiredness, difficulty focusing during the day, and hindering academic performance. Sometimes, they might feel too embarrassed to go to sleepovers or camps, which can make them feel left out. The stress and anxiety surrounding bedwetting can potentially lead to feelings of shame and isolation. But, there are ways to help so that your child can thrive in all areas of their life.
When most people think of treating bedwetting, they don’t think of pelvic physical therapy. However, our physical therapists at Vitality Women’s Physical Therapy in IL can help your child resolve their bed wetting so that you and your child can sleep without the worry of damp sheets.
Call us today to set up an appointment!
Why is my child wetting the bed?
In the past, many people believed bedwetting was due to psychological disorders. We now understand that’s not the case, and enuresis’s causes are physiological. However, enuresis can be a significant source of psychological distress for children and their families, so seeking treatment is important.
Some of the contributors or causes of enuresis can include:
- Issues with the nervous system’s bladder control mechanism
- Small bladder capacity
- Constipation
- Nocturnal Polyuria – overproduction of urine during sleep
- Genetics
- Sleep Disorders
Your child may also be more at risk of enuresis if:
- They had a low birth weight
- Have a developmental delay
- Are neurodivergent
- One or both parents having a history of enuresis
Find Relief With Physical Therapy
Your physical therapist at Vitality Women’s Physical Therapy in IL will create a treatment plan that meets your child’s specific needs. PTs are movement experts who can explain underlying causes and healing techniques to find relief. Our team can also provide you and your child with exercises and coping skills to do at home so you can reduce their bedwetting.
Our physical therapists will develop a personalized treatment program during your child’s evaluation to address their concerns holistically.
Your child’s physical therapy treatment may include:
- Parent and child education on healthy bladder habits
- Strategies to manage constipation that could be contributing to bedwetting
- Exercises to help relax and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles
- Create a fluid management plan for hydration during the day and at night
- Recommend bedwetting alarms and protocol
- Sleep hygiene strategies
- Creation of specific nighttime routines to prevent bedwetting
- Create strategies to engage and motivate your child in their voiding recovery
Physical therapy treatment not only provides much-needed relief but also works to improve children’s confidence and independence.
Get Started At Vitality Women’s Physical Therapy In IL Today!
Our physical therapists at Vitality Women’s Physical Therapy in IL are experts in the world of pediatric pelvic health. Our team works to improve the quality of life by giving patients direct care, patient and parent education, and prescribed treatment that appeals to their circumstances.
Call us at Vitality Women’s Physical Therapy in IL to set up an appointment for your child today! Dry nights are on the horizon!