Mater hosts an Australia first in paediatric biotherapy
- Release Date: 15/09/2009
- For media enquiries please contact 07 3163 1524 or the afterhours on call media officer on 07 3163 8111.
Paediatric urologist, Dr David Winkle and Active Rehabilitation Physiotherapy are leading the way in the treatment of incontinence in children with a new treatment modality, Urostym™, through the Mars Clinic.
Paediatric urologist, Dr David Winkle and Active Rehabilitation Physiotherapy are leading the way in the treatment of incontinence in children with a new treatment modality, Urostym™, through the Mars Clinic.
The Mars Clinic—a joint initiative between Dr David Winkle and Active Rehabilitation Physiotherapy at Mater Medical Centre—was established to meet the significant community need for specialist treatment of children’s continence and is the only unit in Australia working with this cutting-edge technology.
According to Dr Winkle, Urostym™ is a non-invasive tool based on biofeedback therapy which represents a novel way to treat a common problem.
“Overactive bladder syndrome is a development abnormality with significant ramifications physically and socially for children, if left untreated,” Dr Winkle said.
“Three per cent of school-aged children in Australia have a problem with daytime bladder control which can manifest as daytime urgency and urinary tract infections.”
“A further 10 per cent of this age group suffer from night time incontinence,” he continued.
Active Rehabilitation physiotherapist Ester Barter said Urostym™ is a non-surgical, behavioural therapy tool which uses the technology of a computer game to teach children how to use their pelvic floor muscles correctly and thereby improve bladder control.
“The animated characters and biofeedback games foster a high level of engagement with our paediatric patients,” Ms Barter said.
The Mars Clinic was established in 2008. Facilitated by a senior physiotherapist from Active Rehabilitation Physiotherapy, the clinic provides individualised treatment for children. It is also an avenue for referrals to specialists, further testing and liaison with general practitioners regarding ongoing management.
Urostym™
Urostym™ is a pelvic floor retraining system for the treatment of urinary incontinence. The unit allows clinicians to perform EMG (electromyography) biofeedback, pressure biofeedback and electrical stimulation therapy.
Treatment capabilities include conditions such as urge incontinence, stress incontinence, fecal incontinence, urinary retention and pelvic pain.
The system is fully computerised and generates reports quickly and easily, including complete patient information for analysis, treatment and Urostym™ results.