Referrer Information

The Mars Clinic is a continence clinic for children and adolescents with bladder and bowel conditions. It is run by experienced Physiotherapists, who work closely with Paediatric Specialists.

The purpose of the clinic is to provide a specific diagnosis and treatment plan for children and teenagers with bladder and bowel conditions and to identify the need for further referrals or testing.

The Physiotherapist may use a number of different non-invasive strategies and technologies to help diagnose bladder and bowel conditions. This may include:

• Thorough subjective assessment
• Bladder and bowel diaries
• Non-invasive Bluetooth Uroflowmetry, with visual display of electromyography activity, flow rate and volume
• Diagnostic Ultrasound recordings of pre-void volumes, post-void residuals, bladder wall thickness and transverse rectal diameters
• Non-invasive Urostym™ biofeedback, which uses surface electromyography to facilitate computer screen visualisation of pelvic floor muscle activity

Some of the treatment options include:

• Standard urotherapy treatment techniques including age-appropriate education, teaching correct bladder and bowel habits, timed voiding and drinking programs and home management strategies
• Advice on constipation management
• Diagnostic Ultrasound biofeedback to support pelvic floor visualisation and activation
• Non-invasive Urostym™ biofeedback, which uses surface electromyography to facilitate visualisation and control of pelvic floor muscle activity through a computer game
• TENS neuromodulation to retrain nerve pathways
• Enuresis alarm therapy to stimulate bladder to brain nerve pathways
• Advice and recommendations surrounding medication management

There is scientific evidence supporting successful outcomes for children who have Physiotherapy intervention for the treatment of bladder and bowel conditions. Please take a look at our Research to view the latest Mars Clinic and Paediatric Continence scientific evidence.

Most children, but not all, gain bladder and bowel control by 4 to 5 years of age. A referral is recommended for:

• Children over 5 with daytime incontinence
• Children who suffer from soiling and/or constipation
• Children over 6 with enuresis
• Children with recurrent urinary tract infections
• Children over 5 with urinary urgency and frequency
• Children over 3 with delayed toilet training or toileting difficulties

A referral is not essential but is preferred. You can refer a patient via a number of different methods:

We support electronic referrals. Please contact a member of our Administration team who will be able to set that up for you.

Although a referral is not essential, details of the patient’s past medical history, management to date and suspected diagnosis are very helpful. This allows us to better work in partnership with Doctors and Medical Professionals to plan and manage treatment.

Imaging is recommended prior to referral if you suspect any structural abnormality or neurological deficit.

Patients are advised to bring the results from any previous abdominal ultrasounds, urodynamic studies, colonic transit studies and other investigations to their initial appointment.

Management of children’s bladder and bowel conditions requires a team approach. You can be assured that we will provide you with written reports to advise you of your patients’ progress and outcomes.

We aim to accommodate the needs of our patients as soon as possible. On occasions patients may be wait-listed for a short time.

Please refer to Consultation Fees

Patients with Private Health Insurance or patients with an EPC/GP Management Plan may be eligible for a rebate. Please refer to Consultation Fees for full details.

There are Mars Clinic treatment locations in Brisbane. Please refer to Contact Us for full details.