Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Level 1 Lab
About the Course
The Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Level 1 course is a two-part course series composed of (PART I) Lecture and (PART II) Lab. This Part II (Lab) must be completed in-person after you have successfully completed PART I (Lecture) virtually. In PART I, we focus on the basic skills necessary to treat patients with pelvic health dysfunction with primary emphasis on under active pelvic floor muscle conditions. In PART II (Lab), you will apply your knowledge from PART I (Lecture) in a face-to-face format with hands-on activities including external and internal vaginal examinations (see available dates/locations below and COVID-19 safety guidelines). The Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Level 1 course is recognized by The International Continence Society (ICS) as providing training that conforms to ICS standards.
- 9.25 contact hours of live lab instruction, supervision
- On-site, hands-on skills testing and feedback from your instructors and lab assistants
- A printed lab manual and electronic access to any additional handouts (12-month access)
- Post-lab electronic survey (30 days to complete after the course)
- Certificate of Completion (issued upon passing the on-site testing)
- Eligibility: You must be a Licensed Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant or 2nd/3rd Year Physical Therapy Student. No exceptions will be permitted.
- Prerequisites: None. However, we recommend students have some orthopedic/musculoskeletal coursework in their curriculum prior to attending the course.
- Equipment/Dress Code/Temperature Check: Please wear comfortable clothes you can easily remove for lab activities, bring a pen/pencil for onsite lab workbook (workbook will be printed and available onsite), bring hair band(s) to keep hair away during lab exams. Masks, alcohol pads, hand sanitizer and other lab materials will be available on-site. Exam tables will be socially distanced 6 feet apart. Please be ready to have your temperature taken during attendee check-in.
- Advancement: You must complete both PH1 Webinar Lecture and PH1 In-Person Lab to advance to Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Level 2.
Daily Schedule
- Day 1: 7:30am-6:30pm (of the local time zone of the host city)
- Breaks are included: 15 min Morning break, 1 hour lunch break and 15 minute afternoon break
Review of PART I
The focus of PART II will be on conducting external and internal vaginal examinations. You will be applying your knowledge learned in PART I (Lecture) from the following topics:
- Anatomy of the pelvic girdle
- Physiology of micturition
- Dysfunctions of the lower urinary tract
- Dysfunctions of the pelvic muscles
- Patient history examination
- Testing and treatment interventions for the patient with underactive pelvic floor muscle conditions.
- Urogynecologic surgeries
- Medication
- Prevention of pelvic floor dysfunction
- Included
-
- 9.25 contact hours of live lab instruction, supervision
- On-site, hands-on skills testing and feedback from your instructors and lab assistants
- A printed lab manual and electronic access to any additional handouts (12-month access)
- Post-lab electronic survey (30 days to complete after the course)
- Certificate of Completion (issued upon passing the on-site testing)
- Required
-
- Eligibility: You must be a Licensed Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant or 2nd/3rd Year Physical Therapy Student. No exceptions will be permitted.
- Prerequisites: None. However, we recommend students have some orthopedic/musculoskeletal coursework in their curriculum prior to attending the course.
- Equipment/Dress Code/Temperature Check: Please wear comfortable clothes you can easily remove for lab activities, bring a pen/pencil for onsite lab workbook (workbook will be printed and available onsite), bring hair band(s) to keep hair away during lab exams. Masks, alcohol pads, hand sanitizer and other lab materials will be available on-site. Exam tables will be socially distanced 6 feet apart. Please be ready to have your temperature taken during attendee check-in.
- Advancement: You must complete both PH1 Webinar Lecture and PH1 In-Person Lab to advance to Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Level 2.
- Schedule
-
Daily Schedule
- Day 1: 7:30am-6:30pm (of the local time zone of the host city)
- Breaks are included: 15 min Morning break, 1 hour lunch break and 15 minute afternoon break
Review of PART I
The focus of PART II will be on conducting external and internal vaginal examinations. You will be applying your knowledge learned in PART I (Lecture) from the following topics:
- Anatomy of the pelvic girdle
- Physiology of micturition
- Dysfunctions of the lower urinary tract
- Dysfunctions of the pelvic muscles
- Patient history examination
- Testing and treatment interventions for the patient with underactive pelvic floor muscle conditions.
- Urogynecologic surgeries
- Medication
- Prevention of pelvic floor dysfunction
- Help
Course Objectives
Upon completion of both Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Level 1 Lecture and Lab courses, the learner will:
- Identify and examine the anatomy of the pelvic girdle
- Describe the function of the lower urinary tract and female pelvic organs.
- Demonstrate proper infection control techniques involved in pelvic floor muscle examination.
- Perform an external evaluation of the female genitalia verbally identifying bones, ligaments,muscles and other structures.
- Perform an internal pelvic examination identifying muscles, ligaments, bony prominences with identification of pelvic floor muscle origins and insertions.
- Demonstrate proper technique in testing muscle strength of the levator ani muscles.
- Demonstrate proper technique in testing for pelvic organ prolapse.
- Demonstrate proper use of handheld EMG biofeedback to assess pelvic floor musculature.
- Differentiate between under active pelvic floor muscles and overactive pelvic floor muscles.
- Demonstrate an understanding of bladder tests and measurements (bladder diary, urodynamic testing, pad testing, etc.) that are used in the process of differential diagnosis.
- Demonstrate the ability to compose a plan of care including functional goals, prognosis and length of care for the patient with under active pelvic floor conditions.
- Explain red flags related to treatment of the pelvic floor and understand when to refer to another healthcare provider.
- Understand urogynecologic surgeries and their effect on prognosis and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
- Demonstrate understanding of various medications and their effects on the bowel and bladder and identify how that may affect prognosis for a patient with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
- Explain the effects of pelvic floor under activity and proper technique of pelvic muscle exercises for rehabilitative purposes.
- Explain the relationship between the abdominal muscles and the pelvic floor muscles as they relate to activities of daily living.
- Describe the various interventions available to strengthen the muscles of the patient with an under active pelvic floor and clinically reason when and why the various interventions might be used.
- Demonstrate proper use of a handheld pelvic floor muscle electrical stimulation unit and explain its appropriate uses for a patient with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
- Describe techniques that can be used to train (retrain) the bladder and when each intervention might be used.
- Examination/Evaluation
-
- Identify and examine the anatomy of the pelvic girdle
- Describe the function of the lower urinary tract and female pelvic organs.
- Demonstrate proper infection control techniques involved in pelvic floor muscle examination.
- Perform an external evaluation of the female genitalia verbally identifying bones, ligaments,muscles and other structures.
- Perform an internal pelvic examination identifying muscles, ligaments, bony prominences with identification of pelvic floor muscle origins and insertions.
- Demonstrate proper technique in testing muscle strength of the levator ani muscles.
- Demonstrate proper technique in testing for pelvic organ prolapse.
- Demonstrate proper use of handheld EMG biofeedback to assess pelvic floor musculature.
- Diagnosis/Prognosis
-
- Differentiate between under active pelvic floor muscles and overactive pelvic floor muscles.
- Demonstrate an understanding of bladder tests and measurements (bladder diary, urodynamic testing, pad testing, etc.) that are used in the process of differential diagnosis.
- Demonstrate the ability to compose a plan of care including functional goals, prognosis and length of care for the patient with under active pelvic floor conditions.
- Explain red flags related to treatment of the pelvic floor and understand when to refer to another healthcare provider.
- Understand urogynecologic surgeries and their effect on prognosis and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
- Demonstrate understanding of various medications and their effects on the bowel and bladder and identify how that may affect prognosis for a patient with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
- Intervention
-
- Explain the effects of pelvic floor under activity and proper technique of pelvic muscle exercises for rehabilitative purposes.
- Explain the relationship between the abdominal muscles and the pelvic floor muscles as they relate to activities of daily living.
- Describe the various interventions available to strengthen the muscles of the patient with an under active pelvic floor and clinically reason when and why the various interventions might be used.
- Demonstrate proper use of a handheld pelvic floor muscle electrical stimulation unit and explain its appropriate uses for a patient with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
- Describe techniques that can be used to train (retrain) the bladder and when each intervention might be used.
Register for the PH1 Lab
REGISTRATION
Apply your knowledge from Part 1 (Lecture) in a face-to-face lab course with hands-on activities including external and internal vaginal examinations. Register at least 1 month for early-bird rates to SAVE $25 on registration!
Contact Hours: 9.25 hours
Schedule: 7:30am – 6:30pm at the local time zone of host city
Lab Participation Requirements & COVID-19 Consent: Participants will be participating as lab subjects l View Form/Details
Equipment Provided: Gloves, sanitizer, masks, printed lab manuals, name badges, socially distanced exam table arrangements
Upcoming
Click on “Enroll” to register for a lab.
Upcoming Dates | Early-Bird Expires |
Registration |
April 10, 2021 Portland, OR 507 NE 47th Ave Portland, OR 97213 |
March 10, 2021 $25 OFF |
|
May 15, 2021 Temple University 1816 N. 15th St. Philadelphia, PA
|
April 15 2021
$25 OFF |
|
June 12, 2021 St. Louis, MO 4444 Forest Park Blvd.St. Louis, MO 63108 |
May 12, 2021 $25 OFF |
|
June 26, 2021 Longmont United Hospital
|
May 26, 2021
$25 OFF |
|
July 17, 2021 Manvel, TX 11540 Mangolia Parkway Ste. G Manvel, TX 77578 |
June 17, 2021
$25 OFF |
|
September 11, 2021 St. Louis, MO SSM Health Physical Therapy 1027 Bellevue St. Louis, MO 63117 |
August 11, 2021
$25 OFF |
|
Oct. 2, 2021 Portland, OR 507 NE 47th Ave Portland, OR 97213 |
Sept. 2, 2021 $25 OFF |
|
November 13, 2021 Washington University St. Louis, MO 4444 Forest Park Blvd.St. Louis, MO 63108 |
Oct. 13, 2021 $25 OFF |
Lab Activities
Participation and Consent
Participants are expected to stay through the entire lab course; please make your travel plans accordingly. Deduction of contact hours hours and ineligibility to participate in the CAPP process (for those attending CAPP courses) will occur for participants who leave the course early. Participants will be working in groups of 2 during labs. This course includes extensive labs with intra-vaginal & intra-rectal assessment & examination. The Consent & Release Form must be filled out and turned in to the instructor on Day 1 of the course (this form is provided on-site). If the course participant does not turn in the completed form on Day 1, he/she will not be permitted to take the course. All participants must participate in labs as both “therapist” & “patient.” Participants who cannot participate as lab subjects are required to provide their own lab partners. Failure to participate as a lab subject, or to provide required lab partner if needed, will result in forfeiture of course completion and registration costs.
Medical Models
If you are not sure whether you need a medical model or if you are unfamiliar with the process of obtaining a medical model, please read: Medical Models for Internal Pelvic Assessment. Participants that MUST provide their own lab partners include (but are not limited to):
- ALL Male participants
- Pregnant women (except with written physician permission for FULL participation)
- Active vaginal infections
- Active STD or herpes lesions
- Active bladder or rectal infections
- Severe pelvic/vaginal/rectal pain that inhibits examination
- Lack of prior vaginal exam by a physician
- Active OB/GYN cancer