What Is Bladder Training?

Question from Anonymous Caring.com community member:

What is bladder training, and does it work to control incontinence?

Expert Answer by Leslie Kernisan, M.D.:

Bladder training (also called bladder retraining) is a method of learning to regain a measure of control over one's bladder to minimize incontinence. It's usually used by people who have urge incontinence, the type associated with a strong and sudden need to urinate that happens before one can make it safely to a bathroom.

Here's how to do it. Some physical therapists say it's learning to think of "mind over bladder."

Start by going to the toilet and trying to pass urine every two hours while you're awake. You don't have to get up during the night.

You must try to void whether you feel the need or not. You must try to void even if you've just been incontinent.

If you get an urge to go to the bathroom before your scheduled time:

• Stop -- don't run to the bathroom.
• Stand still or sit down if you can.
• Relax. Take a deep breath and let the air out slowly.
• Concentrate on making the urge decrease or even go away, any way you can (imagine the pressure becoming less and less).
• When you feel in control of your bladder, walk slowly to the bathroom, and then go.

Keep up this schedule until you can go two days without an accident. Then increase the time between scheduled trips to the toilet by one hour. When you can go two days without an accident, extend the time between trips again.

Keep this up until you can go four hours between trips to the toilet. This would be considered a normal schedule. Or wait until you're comfortable. This usually takes several weeks.

Don't get discouraged. Bladder retraining takes time and effort, but it's an effective way to overcome incontinence without medication or surgery.

Leslie Kernisan is a senior medical editor at Caring.com and a clinical instructor in the University of California, San Francisco, Division of Geriatrics. She is also a practicing geriatrician at the Over 60 Health Center in Berkeley. Her Caring.com blog provides practical medical tips for caregivers. Leslie Kernisan can be reached at drkernisan@caring.com.

Copyright © 2010 Caring.com. All rights reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be, or to serve as a substitute for, professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Caring.com does not provide medical advice; diagnosis or treatment; or legal, financial, or other professional services advice and disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.