Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
What is pelvic floor physical therapy?
Nicklaus Children's Rehabilitation Services provides a comprehensive physical therapy evaluation and treatment for patients suffering with challenges related to pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD).
Physical therapy management of pelvic health conditions has been shown to be an effective and non-invasive complement to standard medical treatment of patients with pelvic pain, constipation, encopresis, enuresis, incontinence, and many other symptoms. Our primary goal is to optimize muscle control, posture, and establish healthy habits in a child focused and family friendly environment.
How can our pelvic floor physical therapy program help?
Pelvic floor dysfunction, bowel and/or bladder issues can be improved with physical therapy by using a variety of treatment techniques and incorporating important behavioral changes. Our physical therapy program focuses on educating our patient families to help their child's condition improve.
Throughout the pelvic floor therapy program, patient families will learn:
- Anatomy and physiology of pelvic floor muscles and how they relate to bowel, bladder, and pelvic floor dysfunction
- The role of nutrition, proper hydration, adequate sleep, and daily physical activity
- Posture re-training
- Breathing and relaxation strategies
- Manual techniques to improve postural/bony alignment that may affect the pelvic floor
- Exercise techniques to help improve pelvic floor and hip musculature mobility for optimal bowel and bladder function
- Strength and coordination of the pelvic floor and the abdominal musculature
- sEMG Biofeedback to help child learn how to contract and relax their pelvic floor, helping to improve coordination of the pelvic floor
- Development of home programs, toilet schedules, charts, etc. tailored to each child
Who would benefit from our pelvic floor physical therapy program?
Children and adolescents with the following conditions can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy:
- Constipation
- Urinary or bowel dysfunction such as: leakage, urgency, increased/decrease frequency, straining
- Rectal prolapse
- Pelvic, abdominal, hip, sacroiliac joint (SIJ), coccyx, and/or low back pain
- Endometriosis
- Developmental and behavioral concerns such as delayed toilet training and toileting regression
Pelvic floor dysfunction can also occur as part of another diagnosis, such as:
How long is our pelvic floor physical therapy program?
Duration of pelvic floor physical therapy treatment is child specific and dependent on clinical presentation. A plan of care can range from 6-12 weeks. Our physical therapists provide care to patients with pelvic floor dysfunction in collaboration with multidisciplinary specialists in gastroenterology, urology, gynecology, surgery, and proctology.
How to make an a pelvic floor physical therapy appointment
To schedule your initial pelvic floor physical therapy evaluation, contact 877-255-8437. Appointments can also be scheduled online. Services are provided at our main Nicklaus Children’s Hospital campus in the outpatient rehabilitation department.
Forms to Bring to Your Appointment
Please complete the following forms prior to your first pelvic PT evaluation.
Consent for Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Examination and Treatment
Download PDF in English | Spanish | Creole
Patient History Form
Download PDF in English | Spanish | Creole
This page was last updated on: August 11, 2025 04:54 PM