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 This course will challenge outdated narratives—such as the overemphasis on relaxin—and equip participants with a clearer understanding of the true drivers of this clinical presentation with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).