# Why does the "pee dance" help you hold it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504 "2015-04-01T15:16:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504/1 "2015-04-01T15:16:03Z")
Has there been any studies done on why dancing when you need to pee seems to allow you to hold it better than just staying still? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504/2 "2015-04-01T15:43:46Z")
They did it on Mythbusters with inconclusive results about whether it helped or not. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504/3 "2015-04-01T15:45:54Z")
I don’t think that’s true at all. I think some people mistakenly believe it’s true. Other than Mythbusters (who are anything but) it’s darn hard to find a cite. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504/4 "2015-04-01T16:09:08Z")
I think its just a distraction. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504/5 "2015-04-01T16:46:03Z")
I don’t know about dancing, but if I am driving, I seem to be able to hold on much longer than if I am a passenger. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504/6 "2015-04-01T16:50:58Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > They did it on Mythbusters with inconclusive results about whether it helped or not. It doesnt for two out of three, I think. It helps for a few people. iirc. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504/7 "2015-04-01T17:03:43Z")
Can you please describe said “pee dance”? Is it like a jitterbug, break dance or perhaps more of a waltz? ---
**Author:** ![xythenz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a88e57/32.png) [@xythenz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xythenz)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504/8 "2015-04-01T17:21:00Z")
Its entirely psychological. Similar to how you don’t need to pee until you are near your bathroom. Having said that I’m fairly certain that holding in your pee uses muscles that you can train. So i guess if you want to hold in your pee or stop mid stream you have something to practice now! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504/9 "2015-04-01T18:34:29Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Can you please describe said “pee dance”? Is it like a jitterbug, break dance or perhaps more of a waltz? Its more like I’m standing on a really hot floor barefoot, and I take small steps in place like I’m walking, and also I squeeze my legs together like I’m trying to crack a walnut ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504/10 "2015-04-01T18:46:43Z")
A correctly done pee dance incorporates many of the movements of a Zuni Rain Dance, only performed in reverse. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pee-dance-help-you-hold-it/716504/11 "2015-04-01T18:53:59Z")
Also known as [disco fox](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discofox). 😃