Ep. 15 Why Pelvic Health Matters, Stress Response, and Dysautonomia

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Kristina Hanson, DPT. Kristina is a physical therapist and the owner of Uplift Pelvic Health and Wellness. She specializes in helping you regain confidence in your body to return to the activities you love with less symptoms, pain, and greater strength, and the support you need to fully heal. Her focus is on pelvic and abdominal health. Issues inclue  leaking, urgency, pain in the pelvis with intimacy, sitting and exercise, pain in neck/back/hips/SI joints, and more. Who she treats: Postpartum moms, yoga/pilates enthusiasts, peri/menopausal, weekend warrior, normal humans-we all have a pelvis (0:34) Pelvic floor explained (01:35) Why the pelvic floor tends to go unaddressed and the importance of seeking help from a pelvic floor therapist. (05:00) How stress impacts the pelvic floor (07:52) Nervous system regulation tools for the pelvic floor. (10:35) Recognizing breathing patterns that serve you and those that do not. (12:48) Exercises to restore and calm the nervous system (14:10) Pelvic floor and back pain (15:29) Postnatal changes (19:55) Leaking, urgency, incontinence, and the pelvic floor (22:05) Aging, hormonal changes, and pelvic health (25:38) Tearing/scarring after pregnancy and abdominal work (27:53) Vagus nerve and the abdomen (29:04) The nervous system and its wide variety of impacts (30:01) Dysautonomia causes and research (36:51) Pregnancy, after-care, and mom-guilt (45:55) Kristina's daily habits for nervous system regulation (36:51) Pregnancy, after-care, and mom-guilt (50:01) Where to start if you suspect a pelvic floor issue