This course is for the pelvic health clinician who is looking for a thorough introduction to pelvic health, dysfunction, and interventions for rehabilitation.
Pelvic Function Level 1 (PF1) is the beginner-level course in our Pelvic Function Series and provides a thorough introduction to pelvic health, pelvic dysfunction, and interventions for rehabilitation. PF1 is created for the pelvic health clinician who treats patients with conditions including urinary incontinence, chronic pelvic pain (CPP), and pelvic organ prolapse.
In this course, you will learn about conditions including urinary incontinence, chronic pelvic pain (CPP), and pelvic organ prolapse. Participants will be educated on how diagnoses such as interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS), pelvic neuralgias, vulvar pain, and dyspareunia may be improved with pelvic rehabilitation.
Practical, trauma-aware, hands-on labs provide supervised instruction of pelvic function evaluation with external observation, palpation, and internal vaginal examination of pelvic skeletal and soft tissues. These labs include an external perineal and anorectal approach and internal vaginal examination.
Presentation of trauma-informed, evidence-informed evaluation and intervention will be emphasized. Outcome measures and quality-of-life questionnaires will be presented for a variety of conditions.
For pelvic conditions, participants will learn to:
- Recognize the key signs and symptoms that lead to impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities
- Use an evaluation/outcome tool
- Design a multi-modal plan of care for pelvic rehabilitation
- Perform clinical interventions based on the patient’s presentation and goals
Clinical treatment interventions include patient education, neuro re-education, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, therapeutic activities, instruction in self-care, and recommendations for relevant modalities. A general understanding of billing practices will be discussed in this course.
The information contained in this course is immediately applicable to clinical practice.
Available Course Formats
PF1 is available in satellite-lab and and in-person formats as this course introduces internal vaginal examination of pelvic skeletal and soft tissues. Learn more about the different course formats.
Prerequisites
None. This is a beginner-level course.
Pre-Course Learning Requirements
10-14 days before the course, participants will receive an invite to join Teachable, an online learning platform. Course content on this platform includes recorded video lectures, other learning materials, course manual files, mandatory liability waiver, and URLs for any Zoom meetings. All recorded video lectures must be completed before attending the first day of class
Teachable Specifics for Completing Coursework:
- Registrants are required to complete Teachable components in sequential order.
- Video lectures are required and must be completed in full before proceeding to the next Teachable section.
- At the conclusion of the course, registrants can access their post-test and course evaluation forms to provide our curriculum team feedback on their experience, as well as download their certificate of completion.
Audience
This continuing education course is intended for physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapist assistants, registered nurses, nurse midwives, and other rehabilitation professionals. Content is not intended for use outside the scope of the learner’s license or regulation. Pelvic rehabilitation continuing education courses should not be taken by individuals who are not licensed or otherwise regulated.
Special Considerations
As this continuing education course includes extensive lab work, all course attendees should come prepared to participate as both clinician and patient unless medically contraindicated. If you as the participant are unsure, please check with your medical provider prior to attending the course. Read more about What to Expect During Courses with Internal Lab Work.
Content/Trigger Warning
Herman & Wallace strives to foster an environment that is inclusive and welcomes all professionals who are appropriately licensed at our courses. Having any particular anatomy is not a prerequisite for attending or participating fully in our courses. No one participant will be required to partner with any other participant during labs.
Survivors of past trauma should be aware that performing or experiencing internal exams may be triggering, and that many, regardless of their histories, feel strong emotions when practicing these techniques. In order to foster an environment that is non-triggering and safe for all participants, we recommend all participants consider the emotional impact they may experience during the course, and consider consulting a trauma counselor or therapist prior to attending.