PELVIC Floor Level 1 & 2

Pelvic Floor Level 1 and 2B

Level 1 October 14-15, 2023

Level 2B November 18-19, 2023

Course Description

Level 1

This continuing education course consists of pre-recorded lectures followed by live, interactive remote learning that will be completed by groups meeting at a
specific satellite location. The instructor will be presenting to all satellites from a remote location via Zoom. Participants in this event will meet in person to watch the Zoom presentation in the same location. During labs, participants will pair up and be guided by the on-site lab assistants. This course was designed to provide a thorough introduction to pelvic floor function, dysfunction and treatment interventions. This course is geared to the therapist who wants to synthesize the information and apply it to individual treatment programs for urinary incontinence or the musculoskeletal components of urogynecologic pain syndromes such as chronic pelvic pain (CPP), vulvar pain, and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). This continuing education seminar teaches evaluation and treatment interventions by instructional assessment of the pelvic floor muscles with internal vaginal examination, and SEMG biofeedback assessment (please note that, for the time being, SEMG is being demonstrated in video lectures; for hands-on learning, consider attending Biofeedback for Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction). The information is immediately applicable to clinical practice. Presentation of evidence-based evaluation and treatment techniques will be emphasized.

Level 2B

This is a satellite offering of our course Pelvic Floor Level 2B. A satellite means that participants will be gathering in a given location and watching the instructor
present remotely on the same screen. During labs, participants at the satellite course locations will pair up and be guided by the local lab assistants. Self Hosted
pairs and groups will not be provided a lab assistant and will instead be guided remotely by the course instructor. This intermediate-level continuing education course
further defines skills and knowledge learned in the foundational Pelvic Floor Level One course. Specific, advanced examination techniques such as pelvic muscle
mapping and interventions including down training of overactive muscles is instructed. With a specific focus on urogynecologic conditions including prolapse and pelvic organ descent, various pelvic pain diagnoses, and abdominal wall rehabilitation, the participant will be able to learn specific skills to treat these conditions that have a significant negative impact on a woman’s health. Evidence-based references and case studies will be presented for a thorough understanding of current medical evaluation and management of each condition. Instruction in female urogynecologic anatomy occurs throughout this continuing education course, along with education in current terminology and clinical models related to the trunk and pelvic control.

Course Objectives

Level 1

1. Identify the muscle layers and specific muscles of the pelvic floor
2. List the pelvic floor muscle functions
3. Describe and perform pelvic floor muscle evaluation techniques utilizing observation, vaginal palpation, and SEMG biofeedback
4. List appropriate outcome measure tools for urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain
5. List indications, precautions, contraindications, and universal precautions for pelvic floor examination and treatment
6. Identify specific pelvic pain conditions (vulvodynia, IC and CPP) and common physical therapy interventions
7. Identify the various types of urinary incontinence and behavioral treatment options available to the physical therapist
8. List two diagnoses that would benefit from applications of electrotherapy
9. Describe the applications of SEMG biofeedback for the pelvic floor
10. Develop evidence-based treatment plans and progressive clinical goals for female pelvic floor dysfunctions

Level 2B

1. Identify anatomy and pathophysiology of the female reproductive and urologic systems with reference to vaginismus, vulvodynia, dyspareunia, pelvic organ prolapse and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.
2. Identify specific pelvic floor muscle anatomy with external and internal vaginal examinations.
3. Perform internal vaginal myofascial and soft tissue treatment techniques to the pelvic floor and pelvic wall muscles.
4. Describe and teach three neuromuscular relaxation training techniques for the pelvic floor.
5. Perform a neuromuscular relaxation training technique.
6. Perform external perineal examinations appropriate for female pelvic dysfunctions including vaginismus, vulvodynia, dyspareunia, pelvic organ prolapse and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.
7. Perform patient-related education and behavioral instructions appropriate for urogynecologic conditions.
8. Demonstrate muscle assessment tests for the pelvic floor to identify anterior and posterior vaginal wall relaxation (pelvic organ prolapse.)
9. Describe and demonstrate abdominal wall evaluation and treatment interventions of manual therapy, and specific therapeutic exercise for transversus abdominis, diastasis recti, nerve dysfunction, and myofascial pain.
10. Develop treatment plans for pelvic pain syndromes andprolapse.
11. Be able to implement aspects of trauma-informed care inpractice.
12. Treat specific conditions including PCOS, endometriosis, yeast infections, post-urinary tract infections, vulvar pain, dyspareunia, pelvic organ prolapse, interstitial cystitis.