Prioritizing a whole body approach over solely biofeedback in pediatric pelvic floor therapy

At Root to Bloom, we believe that your child’s pelvic floor dysfunction extends beyond their pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor influences everything, and everything influences the pelvic floor.

This is why we take a full-body approach at Root to Bloom.

Your child’s provider may have mentioned biofeedback as part of pelvic floor therapy. 

Typically, they are talking about a surface EMG biofeedback device. This is a non-invasive device that uses electrodes on the pelvic floor muscles to connect with a computer system and records pelvic floor muscle relaxation and contraction. A surface EMG biofeedback device may be a beneficial way to receive insight about your child’s symptoms, but it’s not the only way. 

Biofeedback is any technique that strengthens the mind-body connection and provides information about how the body is moving. 

At Root to Bloom, we provide biofeedback through a number of strategies that give real time feedback on what is going on in the body.

In some cases, surface EMG biofeedback may be ineffective, or provide an incomplete picture of what is going on. 

So, why might a biofeedback device for pediatric pelvic floor physical therapy be ineffective for your child’s bowel and bladder symptoms? And what are some important ways physical therapists can utilize biofeedback more broadly to be an effective treatment method for pediatric pelvic floor conditions? 

A common misconception about a biofeedback device is that it provides all the needed information to resolve your child’s symptoms.

Focusing solely on the pelvic floor muscles can be an ineffective or counterproductive approach to resolving pelvic floor symptoms as it does not prioritize a holistic head-to-toe approach. 

This is why we look at all of the factors in your child’s body that could be influencing their symptoms. Remember, everything influences the pelvic floor. This includes:

• Breathing 

• Posture

• Positions they play in throughout the day

• Nutrition

• Primitive reflexes

• Sensory differences

• Coordination and balance

• Toileting position and mechanics

• Abdominal muscle function

• Reflex loops

• Other orthopedic factors such as hip, back, or rib mobility

• Psychological factors, like fear or anxiety

• Interoception (the ability to recognize the body’s signals and what they mean)

Biofeedback, including surface EMG biofeedback, can be one of many tools for addressing pelvic floor conditions, especially when it takes a holistic approach..

There are many fun ways your child can get information, or feedback, about how their body is performing in terms of breathing, movement, reflexes, and coordination so that they learn what they can do to feel better. Beneficial activities include:

• Blowing bubbles, party blowers, or pinwheels

• Using mirrors to see what is happening

• Sitting on a ball

• Using hands-on cues

• Playing and walking on various surfaces

• Mindfulness strategies

• Activities to improve interoception

This functional play can address all of the factors contributing to your child’s symptoms. At Root to Bloom, we use interactive exercises, games, and books and provide recommendations for realistic strategies to incorporate at home. 

Our pediatric pelvic floor therapists can help your child resolve their symptoms, respond to their body’s signals, build strength, gain confidence, and build independence with toileting for full symptom resolution. 

If you are concerned about your child’s constipation, pee or poop leaks, abdominal pain, or bedwetting,  reach out here to book an evaluation at our Lynnfield, MA office.