Pediatric Encopresis Resolved Following Chiropractic Care

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published the results of a case study on April 9, 2024, documenting the resolution of a patient with pediatric encopresis after receiving chiropractic care. The National Center for Biotechnology Information describes this condition as "Encopresis or fecal incontinence is defined as the involuntary passing of stool into inappropriate places such as the underwear in children older than four years of age. It represents severe psychological distress on children and their families."

The authors of this study noted that a number of prior studies on this subject interchanged the terms "encopresis" and "fecal incontinence". They also reported that previous studies on encopresis showed that boys were more common to have this issue than were girls. Additionally, children suffering from encopresis more commonly suffered with anxiety or depression, had attention difficulties, and were either more withdrawn or aggressive than other children in the same age groups.

In this case, an 8-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor because the girl's gymnastics coach commented that he noticed the girl's "hips were uneven". Her health history revealed that the girl had previously had asthma, had suffered four elbow dislocations between the ages of one and four, and was currently suffering with irregular bowel movements, having only 3-4 per week. She was on Colace medication and taking four pills per day to try to help regulate her colon.

An examination was performed which showed no positive orthopedic or neurological findings. X-rays that were taken did not show any pathologies or underlying diseases. The spinal x-rays did, however, show multiple area of misalignments, believed to be vertebral subluxations.

Based upon the examination and x-rays, specific forms of chiropractic adjustments were started to address the subluxations present in the girl's spine. The girl was initially seen multiple times per week. On each of these visits, she was accessed for the presence of subluxations, and adjusted accordingly.

The study reports that over the course of the girl's chiropractic care, steady improvements in her bowel movements and her encopresis. After the first month of care, it was reported that the girl was almost completely accident free and was able to sleep in panties for the first time in her life. As chiropractic care continued, the girl continued to improve. The study authors reported, "After two and a half months of adjustments, the patient was no longer having any incontinence issues, was no longer taking the Colace pills, and was living a normal, happy life."

In discussing the results of this case in the study's conclusion, the authors stated, "The objective of this case study was to outline the results from subluxation-based chiropractic care of an 8-year-old female with fecal incontinence. As described above, after 2 months of receiving chiropractic adjustments, the patient was no longer suffering from fecal incontinence."