Buzz
As many wedding receptions have shown, not everyone has perfect rhythm. But one universal dance move seems to take over when we need to pee. We hop, balance on one leg, and press our knees together until we finally get to relieve ourselves.
But why do we do this? What is it about the urgency to pee that turns us into a backup dancer in a music video?
Urologist Howard Goldman, MD, shared with Health.com that there is actually a (slight) physiological advantage to shaking a leg when you're fighting the urge to pee.
According to Goldman, when you're moving and wiggling, you're causing the pelvic floor muscles to contract. These muscles control the sphincters that keep urine in the bladder. When it's full and you're about to have an accident, tightening those muscles can help delay the urge and make your brain’s request for a bathroom less insistent.
A pee dance also serves as a distraction technique. Your brain finds it easier to focus on one thing when standing still, so by dancing, you divert your attention away from the overfilled water balloon that is your bladder.
Goldman also noted that sometimes children clutch their crotch when they need to pee, which might have a positive effect: stimulating the nerves there can reduce the sensation of a full bladder.
So, yes, a bit of interpretive pee dancing can help alleviate the discomfort until a bathroom is nearby. But remember, regularly ignoring the urge to pee several times a week could lead to health issues, like weakened pelvic floor muscles or a bladder or kidney infection.
