Part A (3A):
Course Description:
Historically, physiotherapists have been trained from a biomedical approach. Making the transition to a biopsychosocial approach has been a challenge for many clinicians because of our rich biomechanical training. Over the past 15 years, research has been knocking on our cognitive door to embrace a biopsychosocial framework when treating persistent pain. Pain Biology Education has been at the forefront of this practice shift; yet, many physiotherapists are left talking about pain from a biopsychosocial perspective, falling back on their biomechanical skills within their treatment approaches. How do we truly incorporate a biopsychosocial approach? A framework is needed to address the biological, tissue components of a persistent pain experience as well as the psychosocial distress components so that every patient can be addressed through a true biopsychosocial lens. The use of distress questionnaires and skills training for the psychosocial components is lacking in many physiotherapy training programs. This course will teach you how to use distress questionnaires to assess the drivers of a centrally sensitized state. Matching treatment techniques such as pain biology education, yoga, qi gong, meditation, sensori-motor retraining, expressive writing exercises and cardiovascular exercise to each patient’s “driver” of their sensitized state will help to enhance treatment outcomes and streamline treatment.
This is a lecture-format and lab-based course. Included in the cost of the course are handouts and resources for each of the techniques learned. The audio resources presented at the course for meditation, progressive relaxation exercises and qi gong can be purchased through an online app called Embodia. (www.embodiaacademy.com)
Course Objectives:
- To move beyond “talking” about a biopsychosocial model of care to truly incorporating this model into your practice
- To define central sensitization and how to measure it
- To understand a clinical framework for treating persistent pain that expands on your current biomechanical skills (from new grad to seasoned clinician)
- To learn how to assess various drivers of a sensitized nervous system and to “match” evidence-based psychosocial skills to these drivers
- To learn how to incorporate pain biology education in to your practice using accurate language and metaphors; please note, this is NOT an Explain Pain course. This course is designed to teach you how and when to incorporate pain biology education within your practice.
- To learn novel movement exercises including four qi gong routines for the upper body, lower body, breathing and organs to help to address sensori-motor smudging as well as generalized tension
Part B (2)
Course Description:
Many people experience pelvic pain and dysfunction which severely affects their quality of life. Topics covered on this course include the evaluation and hands-on treatment for the following conditions that contribute to pelvic pain: vulvodynia, vestibulodynia, persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), clitoral phimosis, dyspareunia, vaginismus, lichens sclerosis (LS), genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), pudendal neuralgia (PN), bladder pain syndrome (BPS), interstitial cystitis (IC), chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), dysmenorrhea, endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Physiotherapists will learn how the recognize the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms that lead to these impairments, the functional limitations and disabilities they cause, outcome measures that can be used in the clinic and treatment interventions. This course is designed to teach physiotherapists how to evaluate the female and male pelvic floor by learning specific examination and treatments for these conditions. This is a lecture-format and lab-based course.
Support documents, including assessment forms and patient handouts are included in the course cost (see resources tab).
Through completion of this course, participants will:
- Understand the conditions/definitions of vulvodynia, vestibulodynia, persistent genital arousal disorder, clitoral phimosis, dyspareunia, vaginismus, lichens sclerosis, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, pudendal neuralgia, bladder pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis, chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome
- Understand the common symptoms, impairments, functional limitations and disabilities associated in female and male pelvic pain
- Review the literature supporting the role of physiotherapy in the treatment of female and male pelvic pain conditions
- Review pelvic floor anatomy, particularly with regards to female and male pelvic pain conditions
- Improve palpation skills, vaginally and rectally, of the specific pelvic floor muscles in all three layers
- Perform internal and external, vaginal and rectal myofascial and soft tissue treatment techniques specific to pelvic pain conditions
- Describe specific client related education and behavioural instruction related to female and male pelvic pain conditions
- Understand and develop an appropriate treatment plan which includes a home exercise program for female and male pelvic pain
- Recognize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach
- Integrate concepts learned in four days during case studies
Audience:
This course is open to physiotherapists, physiotherapy students, naturopathic doctors, registered nurses, midwives and medical doctors. Labs include internal palpation.
Hours:
Thursday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am-5:00pm
Sunday: 8:30am-5:00pm
Registration begins on the first day 15 minutes prior to the start time.
Prerequisite:
Level 1 course (or equivalent to be approved)
Please Note:
This course is both lecture format and practical labs with vaginal and rectal palpation
