How would you know if your mobility was beginning to change—before a fall, before significant difficulty, and before you thought of yourself as having a mobility problem?

In this episode, Dr. Nicole Dawson talks with physical therapist and aging researcher Michelle “Missy” Criss about the subtle signs of early mobility change and why recognizing them creates an opportunity to act. They explore preclinical mobility limitation, the value of routine mobility assessment, how everyday adaptations can signal change, and what people can do when their concerns are dismissed as “just getting older.”

Most importantly, this conversation reframes mobility as something we can intentionally train for the future—not something we wait to lose.

About Dr. Criss

Michelle (Missy) Criss received her initial physical therapy training at Virginia Commonwealth University, transitional DPT from the University of Pittsburgh, and a PhD in Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Criss is board certified in geriatric physical therapy and is Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Curriculum in ChathamUniversity’s DPT Program. She is proud to have developed the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute’s Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency program in which she continues to serve as a faculty member. Her clinical experience spans 31 years and several practice settings (SNF, IRF, HH, adult day program), but her primary experience was in SNF. Her research interests encompass quality of life in an intergenerational living facility (including ageism/attitudes about aging) and the use of tests and measures with older adults (including work on a national task force exploring a standardized Annual Mobility Assessment for aging adults to identify preclinical mobility limitations). Dr. Criss has served and presented at local, state, national, and international levels. In 2023, she was deeply honored to receive the APTA Geriatrics Joan M. Mills Service Award.

Learn more about Dr. Criss:

Chatham University Faculty Profile: https://www.chatham.edu/academics/graduate/physical-therapy/faculty/michelle-criss.html

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ZJ6RjaIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-missy-criss/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

APTA Geriatrics Annual Mobility Assessment: Learn more about the Annual Mobility Assessment initiative and access resourcesdeveloped to help physical therapists identify mobility changes earlier. https://aptageriatrics.org/annual-mobility-assessment/

About Aging with Intention

Aging with Intention explores how we can age with greater health, purpose, and possibility—and ultimately toward our highest potential. Hosted by Dr. Nicole Dawson, the podcast brings evidence-informed conversations about aging to everyone who is aging, those caring for someone they love, and clinicians helping others age.

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide individual medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Talk with an appropriate healthcare professional about questions related to your individual health or care.