Credé Maneuver: How to Do It, Who Should Avoid It and Safer Alternatives
Updated: 3 days ago
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: November 2026 · How we review
Quick Answer: What is the Credé maneuver?
The Credé maneuver is a technique that uses hand pressure on the lower belly to help push urine out of the bladder when a health problem makes it hard to pee. It's not considered safe long term and is meant only as a bridge until a better method, such as a catheter, is in place. [1]
What the research says
Catheterization, not bladder pressing, is the preferred long-term method. An international expert review of bladder care after spinal cord injury recommended intermittent catheterization as the preferable way to manage neurogenic bladder, listing bladder expression with Valsalva or Credé only among the alternatives when catheterization is not feasible. (Romo et al., World Journal of Urology, 2018) [2]
In high spinal cord injury, Credé can trigger dangerous blood pressure spikes. In a woman with a C3 spinal cord injury, applying the Credé maneuver as part of her daily routine raised her systolic blood pressure from 130 to 230 mmHg, with a pounding headache. The authors note that guidelines already advise avoiding Credé because of hernia and bruising. (Lee et al., Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 2017) [3]
Few specialists choose it today. In a survey of 100 rehabilitation specialists caring for people with spinal cord injury, 78% preferred intermittent catheterization for a bladder that does not contract, while 12% preferred the Credé or Valsalva maneuvers. (Akkoç et al., Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2021) [4]
Key takeaways
The Credé maneuver uses pressure on the lower belly to help push urine out of the bladder. [1]
It is used for urinary retention from causes such as nerve damage, UTIs, an enlarged prostate or kidney stones. [1]
It should take no more than a few minutes, and a provider should show you how before you try it yourself. [1]
Avoid it while healing from belly or pelvic surgery, and in children with neurogenic bladder. [1]
It is not safe long term; catheters, medicines, surgery or pelvic floor therapy are longer-term options. [1]
What is the Credé maneuver?
The Credé maneuver helps release urine when a condition stops you from peeing normally. Pressing on the lower belly stimulates the detrusor muscle, the muscle in the bladder wall, and the pressure forces urine out. It is also called suprapubic pressure, because the pressure is applied just above the pubic bone. [1]
The technique is named after Carl Credé, a 19th-century German gynecologist and obstetrician who first developed it to help deliver the placenta during labor. [1]
Why is the Credé maneuver used?
It is used for urinary retention, when the bladder does not empty fully. Causes include: [1]
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) [1]
Nerve damage, such as from a spinal cord injury or neurogenic bladder [1]
An enlarged prostate [1]
Kidney stones [1]
Draining the bladder matters, because urine left behind can lead to bladder stones, a distended bladder, kidney swelling and, over time, permanent bladder or kidney damage. [1]
How is the Credé maneuver done?
A healthcare provider usually performs it first and then teaches you, so they can check your technique before you do it on your own. [1]
Sit or stand over a toilet or bedpan. [1]
The provider, wearing gloves, places their hands on your lower belly, between the belly button and the pubic bone. [1]
They use downward stroking movements or gentle pressure with the fingertips to help empty the bladder. [1]
Pressure may be held until the urine stops flowing. [1]
If you do it yourself, leaning forward can add extra pressure. The whole maneuver should take no more than a few minutes. [1]
Credé maneuver at a glance
Item | Detail |
Also called | Suprapubic pressure |
Where pressure goes | Lower belly, between the belly button and the pubic bone |
Position | Sitting or standing over a toilet or bedpan |
How long it takes | No more than a few minutes |
Who does it | A provider first; you can learn to do it yourself |
Intended use | Short term only, until a more effective method is available |
Sources: [1]
Who should not use the Credé maneuver?
The Credé maneuver is a short-term bridge, not a long-term plan. If you have a spinal cord injury in the neck or upper back, ask your provider before using it, because pressing on the bladder can trigger a dangerous spike in blood pressure (autonomic dysreflexia).
Situation | Why to avoid it |
Recovering from belly or pelvic surgery | Pressure can cause pain, tear stitches, cause bleeding, raise infection risk and slow healing |
Children with neurogenic bladder | There is a risk of the kidney rupturing |
Long-term bladder management | Long-term use is not considered safe |
Sources: [1]
What are the risks of the Credé maneuver?
Possible complications include: [1]
What are the alternatives to the Credé maneuver?
Because the Credé maneuver is meant only as a temporary fix, your provider will look for a more effective long-term way to empty your bladder: [1]
Longer-term ways to empty the bladder.
Option | What it involves |
Foley catheter | A tube left in the bladder to drain urine |
Self-catheterization | Passing a thin tube into the bladder yourself |
Medicines | Antibiotics, alpha-blockers or drugs that shrink the prostate |
Surgery | Procedures for kidney stones, prostate problems or to widen the urethra |
Pelvic floor exercises or therapy | Training the muscles that control urination |
Sources: [1]
What is the Valsalva maneuver for urination?
The Valsalva maneuver means bearing down while keeping your nose and mouth closed. This raises pressure in your belly, which can help you pee. The same technique is also used to unclog the ears, slow a fast heart rhythm and help with bowel movements. [1]
When should you see a doctor?
Contact a healthcare provider about any trouble peeing or bladder pain, especially if you have not urinated in more than six hours and feel pressure in your pelvis. Urinary retention can become an emergency. [1]
Conclusion
The Credé maneuver uses gentle pressure on the lower belly to help push urine out when the bladder will not empty on its own. It can bridge the gap until a more effective treatment is in place, but it should not be used for long periods, and it is not safe after belly or pelvic surgery or in children with neurogenic bladder. [1]
If you have trouble emptying your bladder, talk to your provider about the cause and the safest long-term option for you, and ask them to show you the technique before trying it at home.
Keep learning: Read our guides to urinary retention, neurogenic bladder and overflow incontinence. For more on this condition, see the NIDDK guide to urinary retention.
FAQ
What is the Credé maneuver?
It is a technique that uses hand pressure on the lower belly to help push urine out of the bladder. It is also called suprapubic pressure.
What is the Credé maneuver used for?
It helps empty the bladder in urinary retention caused by nerve damage, neurogenic bladder, UTIs, an enlarged prostate or kidney stones.
How do you do the Credé maneuver?
Sit or stand over a toilet, place your hands between your belly button and pubic bone, and press downward with gentle strokes until urine stops.
How long does the Credé maneuver take?
It should take no more than a few minutes.
Can I do the Credé maneuver on myself?
Yes, but a provider should show you how first and check your technique. Leaning forward can add pressure.
Is the Credé maneuver safe to use long term?
No. It is meant only as a temporary bridge until a more effective method, such as a catheter, is in place.
Who should not use the Credé maneuver?
Avoid it while recovering from belly or pelvic surgery and in children with neurogenic bladder, because of the risk of kidney rupture.
What are the risks of the Credé maneuver?
Risks include urine reflux toward the kidneys, bruising, hernia, hemorrhoids, high bladder pressure, kidney swelling and urethral stretching.
What can be used instead of the Credé maneuver?
Options include a Foley catheter, self-catheterization, medicines, surgery and pelvic floor exercises or therapy.
When should I see a doctor about trouble peeing?
See a provider for any trouble peeing or bladder pain, especially if you have not urinated in over six hours and feel pelvic pressure.
Related Reading
Learn more in our guide to What is Urinary Retention?.
Learn more in our guide to Neurogenic Bladder: Causes, Symptoms, and Management.
Learn more in our guide to Overflow Incontinence: Managing Chronic Urinary Retention and Leaks.
Learn more in our guide to Distended Bladder: When Your Bladder Stretches Because You Can’t Pee — What It Is, The 4 Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and When It Becomes an Emergency — What You Need to Know.
References
Cleveland Clinic. Credé Maneuver: Purpose, Benefits & Risks. Cleveland Clinic. Last updated March 6, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/crede-maneuver
Romo PGB, Smith CP, Cox A, et al. Non-surgical urologic management of neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury. World J Urol. 2018;36(10):1555-1568. PMID 30051263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-018-2419-z
Lee AHX, Phillips AA, Squair JW, et al. Alarming blood pressure changes during routine bladder emptying in a woman with cervical spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord Ser Cases. 2017;3:17101. PMID 29423304. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-017-0022-y
Akkoç Y, Ersöz M, Çınar E, et al. Evaluation and management of neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury: Current practice among physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists in Turkey. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil. 2021;67(2):225-232. PMID 34396074. https://doi.org/10.5606/tftrd.2021.5817
Medical disclaimer
This article is for general education only and does not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor about your own diagnosis and treatment, and seek emergency care right away for severe or sudden symptoms.
Comments