Course Description:
This advanced level course has been designed to teach pelvic health professionals how to assess and treat pelvic floor dysfunction as it relates to pregnancy. Pregnancy and pelvic floor function go hand-in-hand. Understand the research that supports pelvic floor training during and after pregnancy and learn how to advise your patients on how to safely exercise based on clinical practice guidelines. Learn how to educate your patients on what to expect during labor and delivery to optimize pelvic floor function and health. This course will also offer advanced assessment and treatment skills of ano-rectal dysfunction as it relates to coccydynia in pregnancy, and anal sphincter tears during delivery.
Pelvic Girdle Pain can be a frightening and overwhelming problem in pregnancy and beyond. This course will help you to de-threaten pelvic girdle pain, both for you and your patient. Use evidence-based strategies, and self-treatment techniques to empower your patients to take control of their pain. The importance of over-recruiting and under-recruiting the pelvic floor musculature will be considered in this course; referral to a pelvic health physiotherapist will be emphasized for the treatment of pelvic girdle pain when appropriate. You will be amazed at the simplicity and effectiveness of these techniques. The pelvic girdle simplified!
Upon completion, participants will:
- Understand the effect of pregnancy on the pelvic floor in the prenatal and postnatal periods
- Understand exercise prescription in pregnancy
- Understand the assessment and treatment considerations of pelvic floor dysfunction in pregnancy and coccydynia
- Understand the stages of labor and delivery, and how to coach your patients for success in minimizing pelvic floor trauma in labor and delivery
- Review pelvic floor anatomy, particularly in regards to its influence on pelvic girdle pain
- Understand the common impairments, functional limitations and disabilities associated with patients with pelvic girdle pain
- Critically look at the literature in pelvic girdle pain with regards to assessment and treatment of the SI joint and Pubic symphysis
- Look at an evidence-based classification system for pelvic girdle pain including Reduced Force closure/Form Closure, Excessive force closure, Centrally-driven Pelvic Girdle Pain, as well as Non-specific Inflammatory Pelvic Girdle Pain
- Understand some simple, patient-centered techniques for treating pelvic girdle pain that have great efficacy
- Recognize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach when treating pelvic girdle pain, particularly for those patients with excessive force closure in their pelvic girdles
Prerequisites:
Levels I, II and III (or equivalent to be approved)
Audience:
This course is open to physiotherapists, naturopathic doctors, nurses, midwives and medical doctors. Internal palpation is required.
Hours:
Two day course. Hours to be determined.
Registration begins on the first day 15 minutes prior to the start time.
Please Note:
This course is both lecture format and practical labs with vaginal and/or rectal palpation
