Can Chiropractic Care Help Childhood Encopresis? Case Report Insights
Updated: Oct 20
Childhood encopresis can be deeply upsetting for a child and exhausting for a family. It is not just a toileting issue. For many children, repeated stool accidents affect confidence, friendships, school life, and family routines.
A case report by John Erickson, DC, describes chiropractic care for a 7-year-old boy who had experienced encopresis for three years, along with learning difficulties. The report is notable because the child reportedly went two weeks without an accident after his first chiropractic visit, the longest accident-free period described by the family.
That outcome is interesting, but it also needs careful interpretation. A case report can raise good questions, but it cannot prove that one treatment caused the result. This post explains what the case showed, what may have played a role, and how families can think about this kind of care responsibly.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Childhood encopresis should be discussed with a qualified health care provider.
What childhood encopresis means
Encopresis usually refers to repeated stool accidents in a child who is old enough to use the toilet. It is often linked with constipation, stool withholding, or changes in rectal sensation after long periods of stool retention.
For a child, the experience can feel confusing and humiliating. Families may assume the child is being careless or defiant, but encopresis is often not under the child’s full control. Shame can make the situation worse, especially when accidents happen at school or around other children.
Common care often involves:
A pediatric evaluation to rule out medical causes
Constipation management when present
Dietary and fluid support
Toileting routines
Behavioral support that avoids blame
Follow-up care over time
The case report described a child who had not received care from another health care provider for this condition before visiting the chiropractic clinic. That detail matters. In most cases, a pediatrician or pediatric gastroenterologist should be part of the care plan, especially when symptoms have lasted for years.
What happened in the case report
The child in the report was brought to the chiropractic clinic by his grandmother. He had a three-year history of encopresis and learning difficulties. The report states that the condition caused significant distress for the child and family, including embarrassment and humiliation.
The chiropractic assessment included postural, cranial, neurological, and Sacro Occipital Technique findings. Based on this evaluation, the child was categorized as having a category two pattern, which the report describes as posterior sacroiliac joint instability with cranial stress and imbalance.
The care included several methods:
Sacro Occipital Technique category two care
A cranial procedure referred to as “basic two”
Care directed at a sphenobasilar symphysis cranial strain imbalance
Trans cranial therapy using low-level laser
At a follow-up visit two weeks later, the child’s stepmother reported that he had not had a single accident since the first adjustment. According to the report, this was the longest period he had gone without an accident.
The chiropractor recommended that the child return if symptoms flared or possibly for maintenance care. The child did not return after the second visit. The report says it was presumed that the condition remained stable, though there was no longer-term follow-up documented in the clinic.
Why this result is interesting but limited
This case raises an important question: Can Chiropractic Care Help Childhood Encopresis? The honest answer is that this report suggests a possible association in one child, but it does not prove that chiropractic care treats encopresis.
A case report has real value. It can document an unusual clinical experience and encourage further research. It can also help clinicians notice patterns they might otherwise miss.
But a case report also has clear limits:
What the case report can show | What it cannot prove |
One child improved after care | The care caused the improvement |
The family reported a meaningful change | The same result would happen for other children |
The timing was compelling | The mechanism behind the change |
The case may guide future research | Clinical effectiveness compared with standard care |
Several factors could have influenced the outcome. Symptoms might have changed naturally. The visit could have reduced stress. The child may have felt more confident after receiving attention and care. Family routines may have shifted after the appointment. The chiropractic care itself may have had an effect, but the report cannot separate these possibilities.
That does not make the case unimportant. It means the result should be read as a starting point, not a final answer.
Possible explanations discussed in the report
The author noted that the mechanism behind the child’s improvement was unclear. The report suggested several possible contributors, including reduced pelvic imbalance, improved cranial function, and reduced stress.
Those possible explanations fit the type of chiropractic assessment used in the report, but they remain theoretical in this case. Encopresis can involve the gut, pelvic floor, nervous system, behavior, stress, and family patterns. A change in any part of that system might affect symptoms.
Stress deserves special attention. Encopresis can create a painful cycle. Accidents cause shame. Shame increases stress. Stress may worsen withholding or make toileting harder. A calm clinical encounter, less pressure at home, or a child feeling safer in their body could matter.
Still, families should be cautious about assuming that spinal or cranial care will resolve encopresis. The best approach is usually collaborative. If chiropractic care is considered, it should not replace pediatric medical evaluation, especially when symptoms are chronic, severe, painful, or linked with other health concerns.
What families can take from this case
The most useful lesson from this report is not that one type of care is a guaranteed answer. The lesson is that childhood encopresis deserves compassionate, active attention.
For families facing this issue, a helpful path may include:
Start with medical evaluation
Long-lasting stool accidents should be assessed by a pediatric clinician. Constipation, pain, diet, medications, developmental concerns, and other factors may need attention.
Remove blame from the child
Encopresis is often not intentional. Shame rarely helps and often makes the problem harder to address.
Track patterns gently
Notes about accidents, bowel movements, pain, diet, hydration, and stress can help clinicians understand what is happening.
Use a team approach when needed
Pediatricians, gastroenterology specialists, behavioral health professionals, pelvic floor therapists, and chiropractors may all play different roles depending on the child.
Ask clear questions about any proposed care
Families should ask what the care is intended to do, what evidence supports it, what risks exist, and how progress will be measured.
The case report by Erickson describes a striking improvement in one child after chiropractic care. It also leaves many questions unanswered. That is normal for a case report. The next step for the field would be better-designed research with more children, clear outcome tracking, and longer follow-up.
For now, this case offers cautious hope, not certainty. Encopresis can be emotionally heavy, but it is not a character flaw. Children need patience, skilled care, and adults who treat the problem with dignity.
Citation
Erickson, J., DC. Chiropractic care of a 7-year-old male child presenting with resolving encopresis: A case report.
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