Course Overview
Pregnancy, Postpartum, Menopause
Pelvic floor complaints are grossly underdiagnosed and therefore often time mismanaged. We see sharp increases in rates of pelvic floor dysfunction in women/ females during key milestones in their lives including pregnancy, postpartum and menopause; we also see significant increases around middle-age for men / males. That means whether you consider yourself a pelvic floor therapist, you are working with people who are experiencing pelvic floor complaints. The primary objective of this continuing education course is to equip clinicians with a comprehensive understanding of pelvic floor anatomy and physiology, while also addressing the unique considerations and challenges that arise across the female lifespan, including menstrual cycle phases, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, and sport-related pelvic floor dysfunction (resistance, aerobic, and body weight training).
The continuing education course starts with an introduction to the pelvic floor before transitioning into exploring pelvic floor complaints across the female lifespan. These include changes in physiology during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause with considerations to common musculoskeletal complaints and exercise considerations for each phase. The course then shifts to navigating pelvic floor complaints across different types of exercise. Through online learning, community discussion, and weekly meetings the instructors will interact with the cohort as students attend meetings and submit quizzes based on cases from the week’s material. The live meeting sessions will give students the unique ability to ask questions of the instructors, go through case examples and discuss the considerations and issues that may arise with this population.
Pelvic Floor Course
You do not need to be, or aim to be, an internal pelvic floor therapist to take this course. This continuing education course will cover pelvic floor anatomy, introduce pelvic floor assessment concepts and give you the tools to know when to refer to internal pelvic floor clinician. All clinicians need a working knowledge of the pelvic floor.
This is an 8-week ONLINE continuing education course. All content (videos, resources, etc.) is delivered through our online learning platform with discussion facilitated through the ICE Physio App.
Live video conference calls take place weekly to discuss content and dive deeper into the material. These meetings take place on Thursdays at 7 PM EST and are recorded if you cannot attend live. While live attendance is optional, you will be responsible for viewing the recording afterwards as you will be assessed on the content discussed.
Schedule
Week One
Pelvic floor dysfunction
Week Two
The menstrual cycle and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S)
Week Three
Pregnancy physiology, pregnant-related complications, and the evidence for exercise
Week Four
Early postpartum care
Week Five
Menopause and the active individual
Week Six
Pelvic floor considerations for resistance training
Week Seven
Pelvic floor considerations for bodyweight movements (Yoga, Pilates, gymnastics, and calisthenics)
Week Eight
Pelvic floor considerations for impact (Running, jumping, "boot camp", and sport
Objectives
- Master pelvic floor anatomy and physiology.
- Recognize menstrual cycle phases and sex hormones and their athletic performance impact.
- Understand exercise physiology, including pregnancy-related complications and the use of exercise for management.
- Provide early postpartum care for core and pelvic floor.
- Gain understanding of the menopausal effects on female health, exercise, and genitourinary syndrome.
- Integrate core and pelvic floor considerations for bodyweight exercises like gymnastics, calisthenics, and yoga.
- Treat pelvic floor dysfunction in endurance athletes (e.g., runners) and strength training athletes (e.g., weightlifters, high intensity exercisers).
Additional Information
PREREQUISITES
- None
EDUCATION LEVEL
- Entry-level