#11: Geriatric Pelvic Floor

Hey there, welcome to the NorthStar Physical Therapy podcast! I am your host, Dr. Shirlea North and I dive into lymphedema, lipedema, and various pelvic health dysfunctions. My goal is to provide to you a better way to understand these conditions so that you empower yourself with knowledge to advocate for yourself. Let NorthStar Physical Therapy guide and navigate you on your journey to optimal health!In this episode, we will be taking a leap into the future. This is because I will be sharing with you more about Geriatric Pelvic Floor. I will discuss some considerations regarding this area in pelvic floor physical therapy because it is just as important as the other areas.Let’s talk about what happens with our pelvic floor when we hit a certain age, what is normal, what are not, myths about which you should know the truth, and many more!Let’s discuss:Introduction to the topicWho am I talking to in this podcastMyths around the geriatric pelvic floor and aging – what’s normal and what’s notConsiderations to keep in mind within the geriatric population that are all part of the aging processFirst consideration: Tissue healthThings you can do to preserve the tissues around the pelvic area Sexual acts as a stimulant to improve blood flow in the pelvic areaSecond consideration: Different cardiovascular health conditionsThird consideration: Boney changes that happens in the bodyFourth consideration: Chronic illnessesFifth consideration: Hormonal changesSixth consideration: Pelvic surgeries that happened in this areaSeventh consideration: What happens overtimeEighth consideration: Cancer or any treatment or procedure that was done in the pelvic area  Ninth consideration: Development of pelvic organ prolapse or hemorrhoids in the areaTenth consideration: Medications taken over the past yearsEleventh consideration: Stress over the past yearsWhat I always tell to my people within the geriatric populationHow I check my patients to uncover what’s happeningHow hydration, medication, certain lifestyle practices affect the function of the pelvic areaLooking at the joint mobility Looking at breathing techniquesLooking at postureLooking at the sexual functionConclusionCheck out the website for the services we perform or send me a message at Facebook or Instagram!If you have any questions about this episode or anything related to the services that we offer, please feel free to reach out so we can help you.If you have other topics in mind that you want me to talk about, hit me up and I’ll make sure to consider it for my next podcast!See you in 2 weeks!