Pelvic Health: Changing the Conversation
Pelvic Health: Changing the Conversation |
Course Tools |
Course Description:
Let’s move the conversation forward in orthopedics, sports medicine, and pelvic health. ‘The Kegel vs No Kegel’ debate maintains a focus on thought processes that consider the pelvic floor as the only source and therefore the only solution to pelvic health needs. This fails to appreciate the whole body/whole person anatomical, neuromuscular, pressure and movement system, and biopsychosocial relationships that can have an indirect influence on the health of the pelvic floor. However, we need to find our way to the middle ground that suggests a 'BOTH/AND' framework, no longer suggesting our only options are 'EITHER/OR'.
This short course will introduce participants to clinical reasoning and tools needed to discern, not only if the pelvic floor is under (To Kegel) or overactive (Not to Kegel), but why? Why is the pelvic floor behaving the way it is? How can we influence pelvic floor behavior within the context of the movements and demands placed the individual standing in front of us using Direct (Kegels) or Indirect variables (Movement, pressure systems, addressing kinesophobia, sleep)? Or Both?
Utilizing a framework that considers:
- Symptom clusters-patterns that are commonly associated with under or overactivity.
- Systems thinking-anatomical, neuromuscular, pressure, and psychosocial
- Forces and structures above and below the pelvis adding demands beyond pelvic floor capacity.
- Patient context- exercise history and preferences, goals, pregnancy history, social support.
This more robust whole person, whole athlete understanding of pelvic health provides pelvic floor and non-pelvic floor pros more entry points to integrate pelvic health into their practice patterns. Clinically relevant strategies are offered to break down function and fitness activities in order to build a cohesive, integrative plan help return your patients to the activities they enjoy. (2.25 hours)
(Originally recorded in advance for the ReConNect conference for Birth Professionals in Portugal and Brazil for translation into Portuguese. The translated version will be available soon!)
Course Objectives
- Gain a clinical reasoning framework to discern between pelvic floor under (To Kegel) and overactivity (Not to Kegel).
- Consider direct and indirect variables that influence pelvic floor behavior as potential entry points to integrate pelvic health into orthopedic, sports medicine, and pelvic health clinical practice patterns.
- Describe anatomical, neuromuscular, physiologic, pressure, and movement system interrelationship with the pelvic floor that provide a therapeutic bridge for non-pelvic health professional.
- Implement clinical strategies that break down function and fitness demands, and client capacities and strategies in order to rebuild a cohesive, individualized plans for return to activity.
- Value abdominopelvic health and fitness of choice as components of whole person care.
Course Audience
This course is designed for health and fitness professionals. All participants should apply the information within their State/jurisdictional scope of practice.
I need a Certificate of Completion
Once you complete the course you will receive a certificate of completion through Teachable. The course is not pre-approved for any additional continuing education units for the health professional at this time.
Is the course eligible for CEU's?
Not at this time
Computer Compatibility Needs
This course is hosted on the teachable.com online streaming service designed to handle any system setup. So if you have a computer and an internet connection you should have access without issue. If you have issues with a slower bandwidth connection then you can change the video settings to a lower quality to help improve any loading issues.
Course Curriculum
Your Instructor
Julie Wiebe, PT, DPT has over twenty-five years of clinical experience in Sports Medicine and Pelvic Health, specializing in abdominopelvic, pregnancy and postpartum health for fit and athletic populations. Her passion is to return active patients to fitness and sport after injury and pregnancy and equip professionals to do the same. She has pioneered an integrative approach to promote pelvic health in and through movement and fitness. These strategies have been successful incorporated by medical providers, rehab practitioners, and fitness professionals into a variety of populations (orthopedics, sports medicine, pelvic health, neurology, and pediatrics). Dr. Wiebe is a sought-after speaker delivering evidenced-based continuing education coursework, lectures, and curriculum at academic institutions, clinics, conferences, and professional organizations internationally. A published author, her research interests focus on the interplay of athleticism and pelvic health to inform screening tools and multifactorial intervention strategies. Julie provides direct cash-based care to fit and athletic populations through telehealth and her clinical practice.