Fundamental Physical Therapy Announces Darlene Ryan’s Pediatric Pelvic Health Advanced Practitioner Credential

Advanced credential recognizes excellence in physical therapy clinical skills in the specialty of pediatric bowel, bladder, and pelvic floor health

HUNTERSVILLE, NC, UNITED STATES, October 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Fundamental Physical Therapy is pleased to announce that Darlene Ryan, PT, earned the Pediatric Pelvic Health Advanced Practitioner (PPHAP) credential on August 23, 2026, from Kids Bowel and Bladder, recognizing her advanced clinical competency and commitment to specialized pelvic health care for children.

Ryan, owner and physical therapist at Fundamental Physical Therapy in Huntersville, North Carolina, has more than 20 years of experience in pelvic health physical therapy. Her practice provides individualized care for women and children, with a particular focus on helping children and families navigate bowel and bladder dysfunction, constipation, urinary and fecal incontinence, bedwetting, and other pelvic health concerns.

The PPHAP credential is a new, advanced competency-based credential awarded to physical and occupational therapy practitioners who demonstrate specialized expertise in pediatric pelvic health. Practitioners are evaluated on their application of clinical knowledge and reasoning to real-world patient care through clinical case material, structured documentation, reflective self-assessment, and an evidence-informed clinical practice contribution.

The program emphasizes trauma-informed, child-safe, ethical, and family-centered care, recognizing that children have unique developmental, physical, emotional, and behavioral needs that require a specialized approach.

“Working with children and their families has always been one of the most rewarding parts of my practice,” said Ryan. “Bowel and bladder issues can affect so much more than a child’s physical health. They can influence confidence, friendships, school participation, sports, sleepovers, and family life. I pursued this credential because I believe children deserve specialized care that looks beyond the symptoms to understand the whole child and the factors contributing to their difficulties.”

Ryan founded Fundamental Physical Therapy in 2019 to provide high-quality, customized, one-on-one pelvic physical therapy care. After years of working in a hospital system, she established her independent practice to offer individualized treatment that considers each patient’s unique needs, goals, and circumstances.

Her pediatric pelvic health services support children experiencing challenges such as chronic constipation, stool withholding, fecal leakage, urinary urgency and frequency, daytime accidents, and nighttime bedwetting. Treatment may address toileting habits, bowel and bladder routines, posture, breathing, coordination, core function, and pelvic floor muscle function, as appropriate for the individual child.

Ryan also works to educate parents and collaborate with referring healthcare professionals so that bowel and bladder dysfunction can be recognized and addressed as early as possible. Her approach emphasizes helping families understand their child’s symptoms, identifying contributing factors, and developing practical strategies that support progress at home, at school, and during everyday activities.

“Parents often spend months or even years trying to figure out why their child continues to struggle with constipation, accidents, or bedwetting,” Ryan added. “These challenges are not always simply a matter of behavior or a child not trying hard enough. A thoughtful evaluation can help identify factors that may be contributing to the problem and guide a more individualized plan of care. My goal is to help children feel more comfortable and confident in their bodies while giving families the tools and support they need.”

Earning the PPHAP credential represents Ryan’s continued investment in advancing pediatric pelvic health practice and strengthening the resources available to children and families in the Lake Norman and greater Charlotte region.

Families and healthcare professionals can use the active PPHAP Graduate Registry to find practitioners who hold this credential. Ryan is listed in the registry, helping families and referring providers identify a credentialed pediatric pelvic health practitioner in the Huntersville and greater Charlotte area.

For Fundamental Physical Therapy, this achievement reinforces an ongoing commitment to providing specialized, evidence-informed care in a welcoming, individualized setting. Ryan believes that greater awareness of pediatric pelvic health and improved collaboration among physical therapists, pediatricians, and other healthcare professionals can help more children receive timely and appropriate support for bowel and bladder concerns.

Families and healthcare professionals interested in learning more about pediatric pelvic floor physical therapy can visit www.fundamentalphysicaltherapy.com or contact Fundamental Physical Therapy in Huntersville.

Fundamental Physical Therapy is an independent pelvic health physical therapy practice located in Huntersville, North Carolina, serving women and children throughout the Lake Norman area. Led by Darlene Ryan, PT, PPHAP, the practice provides individualized, one-on-one care for a range of pelvic health concerns, including pediatric bowel and bladder dysfunction, constipation, incontinence, pelvic pain, and pregnancy- and postpartum-related conditions.

Darlene Ryan, PT, PPHAP
Fundamental Physical Therapy
+1 704-565-9475
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