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Dysfunctional Voiding

How do Bladders Work?

Your bladder is a bag-like organ that stores and empties urine. Pelvic floor and sphincter muscles control the opening and closing of the bladder and nerves send messages between your muscles, bladder and brain.

When your bladder is filling up, your pelvic floor and sphincter muscles gently contract to hold in the urine. When your bladder starts to stretch, a message is sent from your bladder to your brain to let it know, “I’m full!” When you go to the toilet, your brain tells your bladder to squeeze out the urine and your pelvic floor will relax to let the urine out. When your bladder is empty, your pelvic floor contracts again.

What is Dysfunctional Voiding?

Dysfunctional voiding describes the situation whereby you go to the toilet and your pelvic floor and sphincter muscles do not completely relax. This results in an inability to completely empty your bladder. Common symptoms of dysfunctional voiding include:

Hesitant or weak urine stream
Post-void residuals
Urinary tract infections
Feeling of ‘incomplete emptying’

Dysfunctional voiding may also manifest in your bowel function. In these cases, symptoms such as long skinny bowel motions or small frequent bowel motions may also be evident. Dysfunction voiding can cause distress for your child and your family. The underlying bladder, bowel, muscle or nerve problem can lead to problems later in life. If your school-aged child shows frequent symptoms related to voiding dysfunction, professional advice is recommended.

Treatment for Dysfunctional Voiding

Assessment and treatment at the Mars Clinic are provided by -trained Physiotherapists. The type and duration of treatment for dysfunctional voiding will vary depending on the cause of the dysfunction and the needs of the individual. Treatment may include:

Teaching correct bladder and bowel habits
Practical advice and strategies for management at home
Timed voiding and drinking programs
Urostym™ biofeedback computer games to teach pelvic floor muscle control and relaxation
Uroflow voiding biofeedback to encourage correct voiding habits
Referral to a medical specialist, or other allied health professional, as required

*Some content kindly adapted from the CFA Website: www.continence.org.au

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For details regarding Physiotherapy for the management of Men’s and Women’s Continence, please view our Active Rehabilitation Physiotherapy website