Video game helps bladder control

Urostym helps young patients avoid embarrassing accidents

Dr. Jeffrey Waxman is using a computer video game to help children with bladder control trouble, and the results are very good.

Videourodynamics

Dr. Waxman, a pediatric urology specialist at Scott & White, has a treatment he calls videourodynamics. It is a biofeedback technique that uses an interactive computer game with kid-friendly graphics. The product is named Urostym®, and it is a unique tool that was purchased with a grant from the Children’s Miracle Network.

Correcting an acquired habit

“They are leaking urine,” said Dr. Waxman as he explained how urination involves two muscles, the sphincter and the bladder, with its surrounding muscle. The sphincter has to relax as the bladder flexes. “These kids are not relaxing the sphincter properly. This is behavioral. It is an acquired habit.”

The causes vary, possibly from hurried or rushed daily schedules. Dr. Waxman said he sees it mainly in grade school age children.

Re-learning how to control muscles

Special sensors are placed on the skin and wired to the computer. While a game plays with fish swimming through an obstacle course, the child flexes stomach and thigh muscles to move on-screen characters up or down. It helps the child re-learn to control muscles – to squeeze and relax properly, which gives control over the bladder and urination.

Successful six-week treatment

Typically, the treatment is one session a week for six weeks, with some home exercises for the child. He said biofeedback success rates have been very good, ranging from 70 to 85 percent.

“What I have heard is kids want to go out and socialize, go to sleep-overs and things like that, but are embarrassed to do so.” Dr. Waxman said. “Those kinds of activities are restricted because of their shame and embarrassment. Once this is overcome, they are able to go out there and live a full life.”

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