The Impact Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Urinary Incontinence Have on Elderly Women and the Role of Occupational Therapy

Tara Wigal-Wertsching, OTD, OTR/L

Learner Outcomes:

1. At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able identify the prevalence and impact pelvic floor dysfunction and urinary incontinence have on elderly women.
2. At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to identify how occupational therapy can help the incontinent, elderly female improve their quality of life and return to daily occupations.

Abstract:

According to Yang, et al. 2018, “within the United States, urinary incontinence is a common, chronic condition for elderly women; it affects over half of the women aged 60 years and older.” The elderly woman’s quality of life is significantly impacted within each domain of their daily function and lifestyle. Their biopsychosocial, spiritual, and sexual being is diminished due to the pelvic floor dysfunction and urinary incontinence causing withdrawal from daily, productive living. Occupational therapists are equipped with the necessary tools to assist elderly women return to daily occupations by using the wide-range and breadth of therapeutic self to improve the pelvic floor dysfunction that is contributing to the urinary incontinence.

Biography:

Tara has been a treating occupational therapist in Phoenix, Arizona, for 38 years. Her career as an OT is multifaceted, with a focus on pelvic floor dysfunction and incontinence. Tara works for HonorHealth Outpatient Therapy Services, treating female and male clients with pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, and urinary/fecal incontinence.

References to support evidence-based practice

• Aibel, K. and Moldwin, R. (2023), Validation of the ‘Pelvic Pain Map’: a new self-assessment tool forchronic pelvic pain localisation. BJU Int, 131: 763-769. https://doi.org/10.1111/bju.15979
• Netter medical illustration used with permission of Elsevier.
• Parsons BA, Baranowski AP, Berghmans B, et al. Management of chronic primary pelvic painsyndromes. BJU Int. 2022;129(5):572-581. doi:10.1111/bju.15609
• Ross, V., Detterman, C., & Hallisey, A. (2021). Myofascial Pelvic Pain: An Overlooked and Treatable Cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 66(2), 148-160.https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13224
• SunDance Rehabilitation Corporation. (1998). Pelvic muscle dysfunction treatment guidelines: Supporting Continence Management. Seminar Workbook.
• Szymański, J. K., Słabuszewska-Jóźwiak, A., & Jakiel, G. (2021). Vaginal Aging-What We Know andWhat We Do Not Know. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(9), 4935. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094935
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/19770-estradiol-vaginal-cream
•  Watson, Stephanie (2023), What Could Be Causing Pain in Your Pelvis? https://www.healthline.com/health/pain-in-pelvis