Pelvic floor therapists and urologists are telling people not to urinate “just in case”. Their reasoning is that people would be training their bladder to signal urgency too soon. They aren’t saying something extremely important:
This does not apply to hypermobile people, or those with low muscle tone.
WHY NOT?
If your muscle tone or your weak ligaments already make it harder for you to sense bladder fullness via interoception, you could be caught by surprise and not be anywhere near a bathroom. Pelvic floor therapy might help. The exercises will assist you or your child in identifying the sensations that other people easily feel. Therapy could also help you be able to use your external sphincter muscles to “hold it” until you get there. Until you develop “lazy bladder”. This is when the nerves don’t respond as promptly to a full bladder triggering urgency. The longer urine sits in the bladder, the more acidic it becomes, irritating the bladder lining. Also not good.
But anyone with low muscle tone and/or hypermobility is dealing with issues that don’t change with exercise. Muscle tone and joint laxity simply don’t improve much with increases in muscle strength. It is extremely challenging to avoid common risks. You’d have to be careful not to create muscle spasm instead. It could feel strong, but a muscle in spasm is not flexible. It tends to create trigger points; painful knots that need to be eliminated. Being in pain when eliminating is the opposite of what anyone wants.
It gets more complicated.
How?
Many people with low muscle tone or hypermobility are prescribed medications to address other common co-occurring conditions. These range from ADHD to chronic pain. They can affect how the kidneys work and how thirsty you are. Drink too much, and you could need the bathroom very, very quickly. Drink too little, and dehydration increases the chance you can produce bladder wall irritation. That will increase urgency. Oops.
“Power peeing” is contracting your abdominal wall to increase the volume and speed of your urine stream. What an incredibly bad idea for anyone. But for hypermobile people of any age, and anyone with pelvic floor issues, it is a very, very bad idea. It strains the pelvic floor even more. For goodness sake, folks: how much time do you save by power peeing? This is a social media idea that has to stop!
What can you do?
Ignore general advice from social media, and learn more about the specific condition you have or your child has. Get into the weeds so that you know what makes sense and what is just clickbait. Get legitimate information from a licensed healthcare provider, not someone selling you something on social media.
Need more information on how to support your child with low muscle tone?
I wrote a book for you!
There was nothing out there for the parents of the kids I treat that need to be potty trained. Nothing. Even online, most of the sites and books suggested that parents speak to their child’s OTR. Except…many therapists have no experience in this area. They work in clinics. They don’t do ADL training with kids. They barely speak with parents, let alone learn what is happening at home in the bathroom. I had to write this book.
I help you do a readiness test, but I also explain how low muscle tone makes everything a bit more challenging. I give you practical strategies, including ways to use the right equipment to make things easier. There is no reason not to use the best equipment in this situation. But you need to know what it is first!
Grab a copy today on (where else?) Amazon !
You just got professional help on the journey to toileting independence for your child!
