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The Pessary Course – Hybrid (Live-Online/In-Person)

The lecture component will take place live-online June 6, 2026, from 10:30am to 6:30pm ET (Toronto). By attending live, you’ll be able to harness the benefits of live discussions, timely feedback, and a collaborative environment.

In-person practical will be completed in-person on June 7, 2026 in Vaughan, ON. Attendance of both sessions (lecture and practical) is mandatory.

Course Description:

Pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence are common concerns that Pelvic Health Physiotherapists and other health care providers see frequently with their clients who were assigned female at birth. As medical systems transition towards conservative management, pessary use is recommended as a first-line symptoms management option for those with POP and SUI both in Canada and internationally.

This course combines the most recent, evidence-based recommendations with hands-on and practical information for where pessaries fit into client care and how to integrate them into your clinical practice. Instructors Jenny and Cara have performed hundreds of pessary fittings and give in-depth, behind-the-scenes perspectives and clinical pearls to help you offer pessary care for your clients. Whether you want to offer pessary fittings in your clinic, work with clients for pessary maintenance after a fitting, or just learn more about pessaries so you can educate your clients who are suitable for pessary use, this course is for you.

Access a complimentary guide for pessary setup in the clinic here.

Course objectives:

  • Briefly review up-to-date management options for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence so you know where pessaries fit into recommended care pathways (see Clinical Update course for in-depth research review)
  • Overview of the POP-Q exam, how to perform the simplified POP-Q and vaginal tissue scan in clinic in a trauma-informed manner
  • Comprehensive, research-based summary regarding pessary recommendations, indications, contraindications, effectiveness and ongoing management
  • Overview of different pessary sizes and styles, clinical reasoning for which pessary size and styles to try with a given client
  • How to work with other health care providers to ensure adequate pessary clearance and ongoing care
  • Charting and interprofessional communication recommendations
  • Practical considerations for how to set up a pessary service in your clinic, including overview of single-patient disposable model or sterilization of pessary fitting kits with an autoclave
  • Lab will involve working in groups of 2-3 to do speculum exams, simplified POP-Q assessment, and pessary fittings for ring and cube on each other, and perform gellhorn insertion/removal on a pelvic model.

**Participants for this course are from different professions, provinces, and countries. It will be each registrant’s responsibility to look into prevention and infection control for their practice. You are encouraged to verify the legislation in your province or country to ensure that fitting pessaries is within your scope of practice as well as the specific regulations about infection control (cleaning and sterilizing in clinic or outside).

This course combines lecture-based instruction with hands-on practical labs. During the practical session, attendees will work in small groups, taking on roles as both the clinician and patient. With an excellent ratio of lab assistants to participants, attendees will receive guidance throughout the practical portion. Lab assistants will be available to answer questions and ensure a supportive learning environment.

If you are unable or uncomfortable acting as a patient model for any reason, you are required to bring someone (such as a friend, family member, or colleague) to practice on, as there is no guarantee that another participant will volunteer to act as a model more than once. Please notify info@pelvichealthsolutions.ca if you will be bringing someone to practice on.

Audience:

This course is recommended for experienced clinicians who have the ability to perform internal exams – Pelvic Health Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Physicians, Physician Assistants, Naturopathic Doctors

Prerequisite: 

Prerequisite: Level 1 and experience/confidence in performing internal examinations. Pessary fitting is an advanced skill and it is not recommended to take the course if you are still becoming accustomed to performing internal exams.

Live-online lecture: Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 10:30am-6:30pm ET (Toronto)

Practical: Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 9:00am-4:00pm ET in Vaughan, ON. 

Integrating Pilates for Prenatal and Postpartum Health – A Practical Approach for Rehab Professionals

Participants who register for this course have the option to attend the course live-online and/or watch the recording later. The recording will be available to all registrants for a 6-week period and access is provided on the next business day following the course. This allows participants who may not be able to attend live-online to still benefit from the course content. To facilitate attendance tracking, please indicate on your registration form if you won’t be attending live.

Course Description:

This 4-hour course introduces current Pilates concepts to physiotherapists and other health and wellness professionals, focusing on prenatal and postpartum care. Participants will learn how to use Pilates principles to complement their clinical practice. Gain practical cues and tips for teaching Pilates successfully and leave with a toolkit of exercises that can be immediately implemented. The course also explores creative applications of small props, such as Pilates balls and resistance bands, that are commonly available in clinic settings. No prior Pilates experience is necessary.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand current Pilates concepts and how they apply to (non-high risk) prenatal and postpartum care.
  • Identify considerations for Pilates during healthy pregnancy and postpartum recovery.
  • Learn effective cues for teaching Pilates successfully.
  • Receive a toolkit of Pilates exercises tailored to prenatal and postpartum populations.
  • Explore practical applications for small props (e.g., Pilates ball, resistance bands) to enhance patient care.

Supplies Recommended:

  • Pilates ball
  • Resistance bands
  • Exercise mat

Audience: This course is open to all healthcare and wellness professionals.

Prerequisite: None – no previous Pilates experience necessary.

Date/Time: May 26, 2026, from 5:30pm-8:30pm ET (Toronto). Please convert to your local time zone.

Pregnancy, Pelvic Girdle Pain & The Pelvic Floor

Participants who register for this course have the option to attend the course live-online and/or watch the recording later. The recording will be available to all registrants for a 6-week period and access is provided on the next business day following the course. This allows participants who may not be able to attend live-online to still benefit from the course content. To facilitate attendance tracking, please indicate on your registration form if you won’t be attending live.

If you are watching the recording only, please note that the breakout room discussions are not recorded and you’ll only be able to see the discussion after. 

Description:

This advanced-level course is designed to deepen the knowledge of physiotherapists and other healthcare providers in optimizing pelvic health throughout the perinatal period and postpartum period, with a specific focus on understanding and managing pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP).

Participants will explore evidence-based strategies to prevent pelvic floor dysfunction during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as best practices for restoring pelvic floor function in the postpartum period. The course will provide a comprehensive overview of appropriate exercise prescription both before and after birth, tailored to support pelvic health.

In addition, advanced assessment and treatment techniques for anorectal dysfunction related to coccydynia in pregnancy and postpartum will be reviewed and demonstrated.

PGP is poorly understood by many clients and clinicians. This course will challenge outdated narratives—such as the overemphasis on relaxin—and equip participants with a clearer understanding of the true drivers of this clinical presentation with particular attention to muscle imbalances that contribute to the clinical presentation. Clinicians will leave with tools necessary to foster a more confident, effective approach to care.

This is a live two-day online lecture course, which includes videos of all assessment and treatment techniques.

Included in this course are the following videos that must be watched prior to the course. You’ll have an opportunity to ask any questions that may arise from watching the videos during the course.

  • DRA video (2.75 hours) – created by Munira Hudani for Pelvic Health Solutions on practical tools and tips, exercise principles and progressions, and the framework she uses.
  • Clinical tests and exercises video (18 minutes) – created by Susan Clinton for Pelvic Health Solutions on special tests to assess pelvic girdle pain and treatment strategies.

Upon completion, participants will:

  • Explore the anatomical, physiological and hormonal changes that occur during the perinatal and postnatal stages.
  • Discuss and review pelvic floor anatomy, focusing on its role in pelvic girdle pain, incontinence and dyspareunia.
  • Learn about the phases of labour.
  • Gain insight into the physiotherapist’s role in both perinatal and postnatal care, including birth plan preparation, perineal massage and birth positions options during labor.
  • Learn assessment and treatment considerations for episiotomy scars/tears, c-section scars, incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, dyspareunia, diastasis recti, coccydynia and other musculoskeletal conditions that occur during pregnancy and postpartum.
  • Gain knowledge on exercise considerations during pregnancy and postpartum, including return to running guidelines and post c-section recovery treatment guidelines.
  • Learn to recognize red flags, contraindications to various treatments, including exercise in high-risk pregnant population and become familiar with urgent maternal signs.
  • Understand obstetric red flags that may require a referral to medical team (OB, midwife, family MD or nurse practitioner)
  • Investigate the causes of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, along with associated impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities.
  • Perform a lumbopelvic assessment of pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain using provocation testing and applying a biopsychosocial approach
  • Establish appropriate patient centered goals and develop an evidence-based treatment plan during pregnancy and postpartum
  • Develop knowledge in evidence-informed strategies to address and mitigate pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, including exercise and lifestyle interventions.
  • Integrate these learnt concepts with the use of case studies.

Audience: This course is open to all practitioners who work with women in the perinatal care period: physiotherapists, naturopathic doctors, nurses, midwives, and medical doctors.

Prerequisite: Level 1 (or equivalent to be approved by PHS – please email info@pelvichealthsolutions.ca for approval).

Date/Time: May 30-31, 2026, from 10:30am-4:30pm ET (Toronto). Convert your local time zone.

Taking Back Postpartum Rehab – Leading Group Classes for the Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist

Participants who register for this course have the option to attend the course live-online and/or watch the recording later. The recording will be available to all registrants for a 6-week period and access is provided on the next business day following the course. This allows participants who may not be able to attend live-online to still benefit from the course content. To facilitate attendance tracking, please indicate on your registration form if you won’t be attending live.

Course Description:

The postpartum period is a critical time for recovery, yet many individuals are guided through this phase by programs and coaches that lack the specialized knowledge required to address their unique needs. The rise of postpartum “rehab” programs has highlighted a gap in quality care—too often, these classes are poorly designed and led by under qualified instructors.

As pelvic floor physiotherapists, we have the ability to fill this gap and set a new standard in postpartum recovery. This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to implement group postpartum rehab classes effectively. You’ll learn about the research and benefits of group physiotherapy and how to apply these benefits to postpartum recovery, how to address common conditions like diastasis recti, prolapse, incontinence, and pain, and how to design effective exercise programs in a group setting.

The course also provides you with valuable resources, including done-for-you class templates and an extensive exercise library, so you can start implementing these programs immediately.

Course Objectives:

  • Review the benefits and research on group rehabilitation programs and how they can be applied to the postpartum population.
  • Provide an overview of common postpartum conditions and important considerations for returning to exercise.
  • Review the benefits of strength training and identify key areas of focus for the postpartum population.
  • Understand the difference between group physiotherapy and general fitness programs.
  • Learn how to program exercises based on participants’ current function and how to modify and adapt exercises in a group environment.
  • Develop the confidence and clinical reasoning needed to structure effective rehab classes.
  • Walk away with done-for-you class templates and a library of exercises and progressions that can be implemented immediately, both in a group environment and with one-on-one clients.
  • Implement a new revenue stream for your clinic while improving the access and affordability of care for your postpartum clients.

Audience: This course is open to practitioners who work with people in the post-partum care period: physiotherapists, occupational therapists, naturopathic doctors, nurses, midwives, and medical doctors.

Prerequisite: None

Date/Time: May 24, 2026, from 10:30am-5:30pm ET (Toronto). Convert your local time zone.