Pediatric Pelvic Floor Therapy in Palatine & Arlington Heights: Helping Kids Feel Confident and Comf
Nov 12, 2026
Now Accepting New Patients at Express Yourself Pediatric Therapy in Palatine, IL!
Does your child struggle with constipation, frequent bathroom trips, bedwetting, or accidents long after potty training? Do they avoid using the bathroom at school or seem to hold it until the very last minute?
Many parents are surprised to learn that these common childhood challenges aren't always behavioral. Sometimes, the muscles responsible for bladder and bowel control aren't working together as effectively as they should.
That's where pediatric pelvic floor physical therapy can help!
At Express Yourself Pediatric Therapy, we offer child-centered pediatric pelvic floor therapy at our Palatine, Illinois, location, conveniently serving families from Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Mount Prospect, Barrington, Inverness, Hoffman Estates, and surrounding communities.
And we're excited to announce that we currently have openings for new patients!
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that supports the bladder and bowel and plays an important role in toileting.
These muscles need to work together to help children recognize when they need to use the bathroom, hold urine or stool appropriately, and relax when it's time to go.
When the muscles are too tense, weak, or poorly coordinated, children may experience difficulties with bladder or bowel control.
Pediatric pelvic floor physical therapy helps children develop better awareness, coordination, and control of these muscles using gentle, developmentally appropriate strategies.
And here's something that might surprise you: pelvic floor therapy isn't just about strengthening muscles!
For many children, learning to relax their pelvic floor muscles is just as important.
1. Frequent Urination
Does your child need to use the bathroom constantly, even shortly after going?
2. Daytime Accidents
Does your child experience urine leakage or accidents after developing bladder control?
3. Bedwetting
While nighttime accidents can be developmentally typical, persistent bedwetting may warrant additional assessment and support.
4. Chronic Constipation
Hard stools, painful bowel movements, or difficulty emptying the bowels can sometimes involve pelvic floor coordination difficulties.
5. Bathroom Avoidance or Withholding
Some children avoid public bathrooms, refuse to poop at school, or hold their urine or stool for extended periods.
6. Stool Accidents or Smearing
Unexpected stool leakage can sometimes result from constipation and difficulty emptying the bowels.
7. Difficulty Starting or Finishing Urination
Straining, interrupted urine flow, or feeling unable to empty the bladder may indicate a need for further evaluation.
8. Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
Some children with recurring UTIs also experience bladder and bowel dysfunction. Addressing these challenges may be an important part of their medical treatment plan.
These symptoms can have different causes. Your child's medical provider can help determine whether pelvic floor therapy would be appropriate.
One of the biggest misconceptions about childhood toileting challenges is that children are choosing not to cooperate.
Parents may hear comments like:
"They're just being stubborn."
"They know how to use the potty!"
"They're too busy playing to stop."
"They just need more reminders."
"They'll grow out of it."
But sometimes, children genuinely struggle to recognize their body's signals, coordinate the muscles needed for toileting, or relax enough to empty their bladder or bowels.
Others may have developed bathroom avoidance because using the toilet has become uncomfortable or stressful.
At Express Yourself Pediatric Therapy, we focus on understanding the reason behind the difficulty—not blaming the child.
Forget the idea of traditional adult physical therapy!
Our approach is gentle, engaging, and tailored to each child's developmental needs, comfort level, and interests.
Depending on your child's needs, treatment may include:
Play-based movement activities: Building strength, coordination, and body awareness through engaging movement.
Breathing and relaxation exercises: Helping children learn how breathing and pelvic floor muscles work together.
Body awareness activities: Supporting children in recognizing and responding to bladder and bowel signals.
Toileting strategies: Exploring positioning, routines, and habits that make bathroom visits easier.
Gentle stretching and strengthening: Addressing muscle tension, posture, and coordination when appropriate.
Parent education: Providing practical strategies to support progress at home.
Pediatric pelvic floor therapy is typically noninvasive and focuses on making children feel safe, comfortable, and empowered.
At Express Yourself Pediatric Therapy, we understand that toileting challenges can affect much more than bathroom routines.
Children may feel embarrassed about accidents, anxious about using school bathrooms, frustrated by constipation, or reluctant to participate in activities because they're worried about needing the restroom.
Our child-led, neuroaffirming approach respects each child's individual needs and experiences.
We work to create a positive, supportive environment where children can develop skills, confidence, and greater independence without shame or pressure.
If toileting challenges are persistent, painful, upsetting, or interfering with your child's participation in daily activities, it's worth speaking with a healthcare provider.
You don't have to wait until bathroom difficulties become a major source of stress for your family.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can be part of a collaborative treatment plan involving your pediatrician, pediatric gastroenterologist, pediatric urologist, or other specialists.
If you're searching for pediatric pelvic floor therapy in Arlington Heights, Palatine, or the Northwest Chicago Suburbs, Express Yourself Pediatric Therapy is here to help.
Our Palatine clinic welcomes families from:
Arlington Heights
Palatine
Rolling Meadows
Buffalo Grove
Mount Prospect
Schaumburg
Barrington
Inverness
Hoffman Estates
And surrounding Northwest Suburban communities
We believe children deserve compassionate, individualized care that addresses both physical challenges and emotional well-being.
Is your child struggling with constipation, bathroom accidents, withholding, or bladder and bowel control?
We currently have pediatric pelvic floor physical therapy openings at our Palatine location!
Contact Express Yourself Pediatric Therapy to learn more or schedule an evaluation.