Most people easily learn how to appropriately get urine and stool out of their bodies when they are infants. A baby should pass its first bowel movement (poop) within the first 24 hours of life! But pooping is an incredibly complex skill, and it is even more incredible that infants naturally understand what to do! That's why, given enough factors working against a child, their bodies can forget and unlearn how to complete this natural bodily function.
People - at any age - may encounter difficulties with some part of that process. Babies, young children, teenagers, and adults - given the right factors, pelvic floor dysfunction can occur. There are many reasons why this happens, and there are many ways to appropriately help people get back their life! Often, the problem is with different muscles, including muscles of the pelvic floor. One wonderful way to address these problems is from the perspective of a physical therapist.
"I've tried taking his toys away, rewarding him, and Miralax every day. He just WON'T POOP!"
"She crosses her legs so she doesn't have to go to the bathroom. She's scared."
"He doesn't want to stop playing, so he has skidmarks in his underwear."
"She wets the bed, but all kids do."
"He had silent reflux as a baby, but he grew out of it. Now he gets bloated, but nothing else."
From poop and pee leaks, to purposeful withholding, to painful poops, to fear and crying. Toileting should NOT be a negative experience!
When it comes to continence (the ability to stay clean and dry during the day, and to appropriately put pee and poop into the toilet), there are many factors that can be challenging. Various diseases present different obstacles. However, EVERY person can benefit from toileting education, exercises for pelvic health, and hope that they can progress. Therapy is NOT a quick fix, nor will it be a 100% fix for every patient. But every person - with or without pelvic health difficulties, can benefit from a whole-body approach, and education.
