Protecting the Pelvic Floor in Female Patients: Review for Non-Women’s Health PTs

(6 CEU’s Approvedby MPTA)

Saturday November 10, 2018

Sponsored by: MICHIGAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION, EASTERN DISTRICT – AN APTA COMPONENT

Presented by: Dr. Karen Litos, PT, DPT, WCS

Owner, No Mom Left Behind PT, LLC

Okemos, Michigan 48840

Course Location: Washtenaw Community College

4800 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor Michigan 48105

Room: Morris Lawrence Building room ML 105/121.

A link for the Campus Map can be found here:

Course Description:This seminar is designed to provide healthcare professionals working with adult female patients deeper understanding of common pelvic floor dysfunctions that should be considered when prescribing exercise interventions and instruction in performing ADLs. Through a review of female gender-specific anatomic, physiologic and hormonal influences, therapists will gain understanding of why women are at increased risk for pelvic floor injuries and common dysfunctions that occur during sports/exercise, during menopause, and during the childbirth year. Therapists will be able to instruct their female patients in how to strengthen and protect the pelvic floor muscles and promote continence during exercises, sports activities and daily activities of living. This course includes an introduction to obstetrics PT with participation in an interactive lab designed to increase understanding of orthopedic and breathing considerations during labor and delivery, and interventions to reduce risk of injury to the pelvic floor muscles during childbirth. This course is appropriate for PTs working in multiple settings that include but are not limited to outpatient orthopedics, sports medicine, inpatient and home health.

Course level: Intermediate

OBJECTIVES:

Upon Completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

1.Understand the anatomic, physiologic and hormonal influences that predispose women to pelvic floor dysfunctions through the lifespan.

2.Utilize professional, respectful and culturally sensitive interview techniques and intake forms to identify patients with potential pelvic floor dysfunctions for treat vs. refer decisions or need for modifications with exercise regimens.

3.Understand the role of hormonal changes, straining and high-impact sports in the development of pelvic organ prolapse and stress incontinence. Recognize the role of the physical therapist in risk management through modifications of at-risk activities.

4.Instruct patients on how to correctly identify, contract and relax their pelvic floor muscles.

5.Know the difference between up training and down training the pelvic floor and contraindications for pelvic floor up training.

6.Learn how to incorporate breathing, posture and pelvic floor co-activation during exercise, sports or activities of daily living to eliminate incontinence.

7.Identify orthopedic considerations for labor and delivery positioning and breathing that may reduce risk for pelvic floor muscle injuries during childbirth.Course will be capped at 40participants.

Speaker Bio:Dr. Litos is an ABPTS board-certified Women’s Health physical therapist with 18 years clinical experience. She is a passionate advocate for women’s health education and frequent speaker at national physical therapy functions. Dr. Litos teaches continuing education courses on behalf of for the APTA Section on Women’s Health in pregnancy, postpartum and peripartum care. She also teaches courses as a lecturer for the University of Michigan-Flint in both the traditional and transitional DPT programs. Her clinical practice focus is prenatal and postpartum rehabilitation, pelvic pain, and bowel/bladder dysfunctions for adult females through the lifespan.

Course Schedule: Registration begins at 8:30 am. This course will run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. A continental breakfast, refreshments & lunch will be provided.

Registration: 8:30- 9:00 (refreshments served)

Time / Title and Description / Total Minutes
9:00 / Introduction / 10
9:10 / 1a. Overview: Female Pelvic Health and the Role of a Pelvic Health PT
Overview of current relevant statistics for female gender-specific pelvic health problems through the lifespan, and relevance to other areas of clinical practice. Brief review of the unique role of a woman’s health PT / 15
9:25 / 1b.Review of Anatomic and Physiologic Factors Contributing to Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions
Review of female pelvic floor anatomic, physiologic and hormonal influences for common pelvic floor dysfunctions in women through the lifespan / 30
9:55 / LAB 1: PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLE IDENTIFICATION
Practice effective methods of instructing patients how to find, contract and relax their pelvic floor muscles (Kegals) through a group activity with trials utilizing various position changes and verbal or tactile cues. Identify common compensatory strategies patients may use while performing a Kegal incorrectly. / 30
10:25 / 1c. Intake Tools and Interview Techniques
Learn respectful and culturally sensitive interview techniques to screen for pelvic floor dysfunctions in patients. Review appropriate intake tools that can be used by the physical therapist across multiple clinic settings. / 15
10:40 / BREAK / 5
10:45 / 1d. Signs and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions
Recognize the signs and symptoms of overactive and underactive pelvic floor muscles and common dysfunctions associated with each. Learn the difference between up training and down training of the pelvic floor muscles and contraindications for up training.
Understand how PTs can positively impact the pelvic health of their female patients through proper training of the pelvic floor muscles during activities of daily living and exercise / 30
11:15 / LAB 2: PROTECTING THE PELVIC FLOOR DURING ADLS
Identify at-risk activities of daily living for women based on their reported signs and symptoms and practice modifications for provoking ADLs with your “patient” / 30
11:45 / LUNCH- provided by MPTA / 60
12:45 / 2a. Female Athletes
Understand the causes and prevalence of stress urinary incontinence in female athletes, and the role the physical therapist can provide in educating this population to prevent promote pelvic health during sports activities. Know the sports at most risk for developing stress urinary incontinence in otherwise healthy female athletes. / 30
1:15 / 2b. Special Populations: Pregnancy and Menopause
Recognize the hormonal influences and comorbidities that must be considered when prescribing an appropriate exercise program during pregnancy and for mid-life women in the peri-menopause period and predisposition to pelvic floor dysfunctions / 30
1:45 / LAB 3: PROTECTING THE PELVIC FLOOR DURING SPORTS & EXERCISE
Learn modifications of high impact and lifting exercises to decrease risk of pelvic floor injury or incontinence in female athletes and exercisers through posture, breathing and co-activation of the PF muscles. Identify precautions, contraindications and modifications of exercises for “paper patients” in different scenarios. / 60
2:45 / BREAK / 5
2:50 / 3a. Pregnancy: Labor and Delivery
Review the anatomic and physiologic changes that occur during the childbearing year. Review the role of the pelvic floor during the cardinal movements of birth and risk factors for injury during vaginal delivery. Recognize the role the PT can have in patient education about alternative positioning, manual techniques and breathing to reduce risks of pelvic floor muscle injuries based on current evidence. / 30
3:15 / LAB 4: ORTHOPEDIC CONSIDERATIONS WITH LABOR AND DELIVERY:
Review alternatives for positioning, manual techniques and breathing during labor and delivery to reduce injury risk to the pelvic floor muscles with consideration of various orthopedic conditions. Identify and demonstrate positioning recommendations and precautions for paper patients with various orthopedic considerations. / 30
3:45 / Group Quiz & Wrap up/Q & A / 10

Registration Form:

DEADLINE: Postmarked on or before November 1, 2018. Acceptance will be based on postmark. We reserve the right to cancel due to insufficient enrollment. Confirmation will be sent out via email.

  • Registration is limited to 40 participants.
  • Refunds must be requested no later than November 1, 2018.
  • Confirmations will be emailed to registered participants.
  • Handouts will be made available via email. No handouts will be available onsite.
  • RECOMMENDED READING: Review of female pelvic floor anatomy in Netter’s, Grey’s or other anatomy textbook
  • LAB ATTIRE: Participants wear lightweight yoga pants or shorts and tennis shoes. Blue jeans, heavyweight sweatpants, or similar are NOT appropriate for these labs.

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Registration fee (Please circle): PT/PTA member$ 60

Student member $ 40

PT/PTA non-member$ 150

Student non-member$65

Mail Check Payable to:MPTA

1055 North Fairfax St., Suite 205

Alexandria, VA 22314-1488

PHOTO DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that this registration form also serves as an agreement to appear in photographs taken at the course/meeting. And that these photos may be used for publicity or general information purposes and may be seen by the general public/social media.

Any questions, please call MPTA at 800/765-7848 x7119or by email at .

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