The Right Correction: Bedwetting and Chiropractic

You've probably heard of chiropractors, but you may associate them with adults suffering from back pain or spinal problems. However, recent studies have shown that chiropractic, the fastest-growing and second-most common healthcare profession in the United States, can help children manage bedwetting, according to the Chiropractic Association. In fact, the results of a study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics revealed that a quarter of the 171 participating children treated by a chiropractor saw their nighttime incidents decrease by 50%. After trying a multitude of solutions, Amy*, the mother of a 9-year-old boy who wets the bed almost every night, decided to take her son to the chiropractor. “We’ve only had a few uneventful nights in his life,” she says. “We tried a few different things, including biofeedback from a urologist, which helped a little. One night when I was out with my girlfriends, someone suggested we see the chiropractor. After my son’s third chiropractic visit, we had an uneventful night.” Like Amy, many parents are opting for an alternative, non-invasive, drug-free approach to managing bedwetting. How does it work? According to Dr. ShaRhae A. Matousek of Matousek Chiropractic in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, chiropractic care promotes better functioning of the nerves controlling the organs of the urinary system. Dr. Matousek says, "Since your nerves affect every cell in your body, they influence organs like the bladder. When a chiropractor restores normal movement to the spine, the nerves can function properly. Removing stress from the nerves allows the organs to function at their best." Should your child see a chiropractor? Frustrated after trying various solutions, Amy opted for alternative therapy. This isn't surprising to specialists who practice pediatric and family chiropractic. A chiropractor should only be used to treat bedwetting as a last resort, as Amy did, but it also provides an alternative opinion beyond that of a family doctor or pediatrician. Karen*, from Michigan, found that her chiropractor incorporated a more personal understanding of her son's problem into his practice. Our 11-year-old son still wets his pads, usually four or five nights out of seven. Nothing seems to be working, she says. Our doctor doesn't seem concerned at all, but our chiropractor, who has tried some corrections to address the problem, seems very concerned. We feel caught in the middle. Amy says: My son has been going to the chiropractor two to three times a week for about two and a half months. After the third visit, we didn't have any incidents, nor for a few nights here and there after.... We were told that one of the nerves in his bladder was blocked and that correction would help. I believe it did. What to expect? The number of visits to the chiropractor varies depending on the degree of spinal correction needed, says Amy. For my son, the treatment lasted five minutes, two to three times a week. The problem wasn't completely resolved, but I believe it improved his bedwetting. However, after seeing the chiropractor for two and a half months, Amy decided to discontinue the treatments because her son was still having incidents. Of course, we hoped the chiropractor would fix things permanently, she says, still firmly believing that the treatments have reduced the frequency of incidents. Although bedwetting can be stressful for both children and parents, Amy says treatments like pediatric chiropractic offer hope. "I just want others to know about this option to help their children," she says. "My son was usually wet in the morning. He's still wet most of the time, but it's much better." *While bedwetting is a normal part of growing up, we have chosen to change the names of individuals in our articles to protect their privacy. Keep in mind that according to the National Kidney Foundation, more than five to seven million children over the age of 5 wet the bed in the United States.