| I have seen bowel problems in Autism to be an | | | | Pain from small bowel inflammation can also be |
| almost universal problem. From small children to | | | | causing the posturing behavior, so recognizing this |
| teenagers, many of them have bowel issues. | | | | as a potential medical problem is wise as well as |
| These issues can be due to many different things. | | | | seeking medical attention. |
| A child often has a hard time with bowel | | | | You can ask your child’s pediatrician or doctor |
| movements because they cannot feel the need | | | | to do an abdominal x-ray as an easy way to see |
| to go. Children with inflammatory bowel issues are | | | | what’s going on. Your child may have regular |
| also very common in my practice. And many | | | | bowel movements, but what comes out may |
| behavioral problems can be tied to children who, | | | | only be a small portion of what is in there. By |
| on the other end of things, are very constipated. | | | | doing an abdominal x-ray you can see just how |
| Posturing is a behavior where your child seeks | | | | much stool is stored in their bowel. So without this |
| relief from abdominal pain by leaning onto | | | | easy diagnostic tool, you won’t know what is |
| furniture. They can lean on couches, chairs, tables, | | | | going on. |
| etc. in an effort to put pressure on the abdominal | | | | So again, posturing can be an indication of an |
| area and this can be a sign of an underlying bowel | | | | underlying bowel problem that needs to be |
| problem. This is different from playful behavior | | | | addressed by your child’s doctor. Posturing |
| that children do where they lay on the edge of | | | | over furniture, couches, chairs, tables, even lying |
| furniture for a few seconds and then go off. | | | | on the ground to put pressure on their abdomen |
| Posturing is for a more prolonged period and | | | | can be signs that should be followed up on. If the |
| where they look like they are trying to find a | | | | issue is constipation then there are many different |
| comfortable position. | | | | things that can help like magnesium or other |
| When a child does not have a bowel movement | | | | laxatives. If the issue is diarrhea then it may be |
| everyday the stool builds up, that causes | | | | an underlying problem with inflammation or |
| cramping and pain. Posturing can be a way for the | | | | infection. You may want to consider doing a stool |
| child to leverage against furniture as a means to | | | | test. When looking for clues as to underlying |
| relieve that discomfort since children typically do | | | | health issues, posturing can be an important one |
| not have the arm or hand strength to push | | | | with respects to bowel issues. |
| against their abdomen hard enough to find relief. | | | | |