What is Encopresis?
Encopresis, a condition characterized by the involuntary passage of feces, often arises from chronic constipation, and can lead to significant psychological and social distress for affected individuals, typically children over the age of 4. The condition can be primary, where the child has never achieved toilet training, or secondary, developing after the child was previously toilet trained. Treatment focuses on relieving constipation, establishing regular bowel habits, and may involve behavioral interventions, dietary changes, and in some cases, medication.
Encopresis not only impacts physical health but also affects emotional well-being, leading to embarrassment, frustration, and decreased self-esteem. Early intervention and a comprehensive approach to management are crucial for overcoming encopresis, with the goal of restoring normal bowel function and improving the child's quality of life. Collaboration between healthcare providers, parents, and the child is essential for successful treatment and recovery.
Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive approach to co-managing encopresis, focusing on correcting structural shifts, to improve nervous system function and, consequently, gastrointestinal motility. The nervous system, which controls and coordinates all functions of the body, can be obstructed by these structural shifts, leading to a variety of health issues. By addressing the underlying structural shifts that may contribute to dysregulation of the bowel, chiropractic adjustments can help restore normal bowel movements and alleviate the symptoms of encopresis.
While research in this area is still emerging, case studies suggest chiropractic care can be a valuable component of a multi-faceted treatment plan, offering potential for relief in children with encopresis. This holistic approach emphasizes the importance of a healthy spine for overall bodily functions, including digestion. As chiropractic care continues to show promise in this area, it supports the broader understanding of encopresis as a multifactorial condition that benefits from a comprehensive, integrative management strategy.
Chiropractic Helps Child with Encopresis
The 8-year-old girl in this study was struggling with fecal incontinence with no relief despite conventional remedies. She also had a history of asthma, elbow dislocations, a head injury, and irregular bowel movements. Sometimes she would have accidents and soil her clothes.
The chiropractor examined her and found structural shifts in her midback and low back. X-rays confirmed these findings. These structural shifts can lead to obstruction of the nerves and it is this obstruction, that chiropractors correct.
Following chiropractic care, she experienced complete resolution of her incontinence, allowing her to resume a normal life without medication.
The study’s author called for additional research to investigate the clinical implications of chiropractic in this population.
Reference
Resolution of Pediatric Encopresis Following Chiropractic Care to Reduce Structural Shifts: A Case Study & Review of the Literature. Sherry Meeks, BS, DC, Tracy Green, BS, DC, Michael Evans, BS, DC. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~ Volume, 2024.