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Continuing Education Courses Pediatrics Level 1 -Treatment of Bowel and Bladder Disorders

Upcoming Events of this Course

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Pediatrics Level 1 - Treatment of Bowel and Bladder Disorders - Remote Course - August 23 - 24 2025

Aug 23 2025 - Aug 24 2025

Pediatrics Level 1 - Treatment of Bowel and Bladder Disorders - Remote Course - October 25 - 26 2025

Oct 25 2025 - Oct 26 2025

Pediatrics Level 1 -Treatment of Bowel and Bladder Disorders


  • PEDS_1_Toddler_Potty_Training_2119953220_by_Greggory_DiSalvo_iStock.jpg
  • PEDS_2_Dawn_treating_child_Provided_by_Dawn_Sandalcidi.jpg
  • PEDS_3_Potty_training_in_progress_by_rudi_suardi_from_Getty_Images_Canva.jpg
  • PEDS_4_Bladder_Anatomy_Healthy_internal_organ_with_urethra_2065620372_by_Guzaliia_Filimonova_iStock.jpg
  • Description

  • Objectives

  • Schedule

  • Testimonials

Price: $695
Experience Level: Beginner
Contact Hours: 24

This course provides a crucial and comprehensive framework for addressing pediatric pelvic floor dysfunction, focusing on issues like incontinence, dysfunctional voiding, and constipation. These conditions not only affect the physical health of children but also their emotional well-being and the dynamics within their families. By integrating both medical and therapeutic approaches, this course equips therapists with the tools to make a meaningful difference in the lives of these children.

Highlighting key statistics and guidelines from the International Children’s Continence Society (ICCS), the course acknowledges the importance of achieving bladder control by age 5 for typically developing children, while also recognizing the psychological impact on children and families when this milestone is not met. The emotional toll, including frustration, anxiety, and the potential for psychological behaviors, emphasizes the urgency for specialized pediatric intervention.

The course addresses the most common pelvic floor dysfunctions seen in children, such as dysfunctional elimination syndrome, withholding, urinary tract infections (UTIs), bedwetting, and the often-overlooked role of constipation in contributing to urinary leakage and urgency. With constipation alone accounting for nearly 5% of pediatric office visits, the need for trained specialists in this field is significant.

What makes this course particularly invaluable is its holistic and practical approach. Participants will gain knowledge of the normal development of voiding reflexes and urinary control, along with common causes of incontinence in pediatric patients. The focus on hands-on evaluation and treatment methods—such as surface electromyography (SEMG) biofeedback, rehabilitative ultrasound imaging, and external manual techniques—ensures that therapists can effectively assess and address these complex conditions.

The inclusion of case studies provides real-world applications, helping participants understand the progression of treatments and the path from diagnosis to discharge. The additional focus on pediatric play, trauma-informed care, and language tailored for working with neurodivergent patients adds another layer of relevance, particularly for therapists working with children who have special needs, sensory processing differences, or musculoskeletal asymmetries.

By taking a comprehensive and child-centered approach, this course not only prepares participants to address bladder and bowel dysfunction but also to contribute to the long-term health and quality of life for their pediatric patients, potentially preventing these issues from persisting into adulthood.

Prerequisites
None. This is a beginner-level course.

Pre-Course Learning Requirements
1) Read Suzanne's story
2) 10-14 days before the course, participants will receive an invite to join Teachable, an online learning platform. In Teachable, registrants will find video lectures (all video lectures must be completed before attending the first day of class), other pre-course learning materials, course manual files, mandatory liability waiver, and URLs for any Zoom meetings. We require registrants to complete teachable components in sequential order. Videos 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 form to provide our curriculum team feedback on their experience, as well as download their certificate of completion - all via Teachable

Audience
This course is appropriate for physical therapists, occupational therapists, pediatric nurse practitioners and medical doctors and other health care professionals interested in expanding their practice in pediatric bowel and bladder disorders. Content is not intended for use outside the scope of the learner's license or regulation. Physical therapy continuing education courses should not be taken by individuals who are not licensed or otherwise regulated, except, as they are involved in a specific plan of care.

Required Supplies

  • - Pillow
  • - Balloons (one filled with cold water and one to blow into)
  • - Rolled up towels (4) or 2 yoga blocks
  • - Washcloth
  • - 10-pound cuff weight or equivalent
  • - 4-foot TheraBand of medium resistance
What to Have Ready for Labs
  • - Room for Yoga mat for floor or treatment table
  • - Hard surface to sit on
  • - Stool or squatty potty to put feet on

Upon completion of this continuing education seminar, participants will learn:

  1. List 2 muscles groups and describe 3 functions of the pelvic floor 
  2. Understand the development of normal urinary control in pediatrics
  3. Understand medical red flags for abnormal voiding and when to refer to medical doctor
  4. List the 4 phases of defecation and describe the rectal anal inhibitory reflex
  5. Identify 2 common causes of constipation and its’ relationship to bladder dysfunction
  6. Observe and describe 2 soft tissue techniques for constipation via video
  7. Describe the pelvic floor relationship to 2 voiding reflexes.
  8. Understand pediatric urology terminology and investigative tools used for testing the pediatric patient for differential diagnosis
  9. Discuss education and treatment related to diet including listing 5 bladder irritants for good bladder health and 2 bladder retraining strategies
  10. Understand pediatric pelvic floor dysfunctions on SEMG as it relates to bowel and bladder function and list 3 common findings on SEMG
  11. Identify the need for referral based on SEMG findings and visual PFM assessment
  12. Observe and assess the effects of posture and positioning on pelvic floor muscle recruitment and relaxation.
  13. Understand the psychological effects of bedwetting, daytime urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence and know when to refer to appropriate practitioners.
  14. Describe 3 behavioral treatments or Urotherapy for pediatric pelvic floor dysfunctions.
  15. Understand the use of surface electromyography (SEMG) in the pediatric patient.
  16. Develop 4 treatment progressions for children with pediatric bowel and bladder dysfunction.
  17. Perform verbal instruction of pelvic floor activation
  18. Perform 3 different diaphragmatic breathing techniques for pediatric patients including diastasis rectus abdominis assessment with examples of core activation.
  19. Discuss the effects of toileting postures on pelvic floor muscle recruitment and relaxation and instruct in at least 3 methods of pelvic floor elongation for proper elimination on the toilet
  20. Understand pediatric terminology and trauma informed care
  21. Synthesize pediatric play techniques for functional purposes
  22. Considerations when working with the neurodivergent population with bowel/bladder dysfunction

NOTE: Times below are listed in Pacific time zone
For assistance converting the times below to your local time zone, use this link:
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter-classic.html

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Before Day One
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These video lectures in Teachable must be viewed in-full prior to the course

1) Anatomy of the Pelvic Floor (37 min)
2) Posture and Development of the PFM (6 min)
3) Normal bowel & bladder function in pediatrics (21 min)
4) Standardization of terminology of bladder function in children and adolescents (20 min)
5) Conditions and diagnoses (27 min)
6) Investigative Tools: Bladder diaries (25 min)
7) Investigative Tools: Uroflow (23 min)
8) Investigative Tools: Invasive Testing (16 min)
9) Investigative Tools: KUB questionnaires (27 min)
10) Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR): Definition, medical-surgical management (25 min)
11) Physiology of defecation (41 min)
12) Constipation - Definition and diagnoses (34 min)
13) Constipation - Pelvic Therapy and Medication (36 min)
14) Constipation - Enemas and MOP (17 min)
15) Constipation - Manual Treatments for constipation (23 min)
16) SEMG Biofeedback Fundamentals (40 min)

These additional videos can be watched after the course:

17) Neurogenic Bladder (11 min)
18) Psychological considerations (45 min)
19) Trauma informed Language in Pediatrics (30 min)
20) Dealing with sexual trauma in pediatrics (30 min)
21) Rehabilitative Ultrasound Demonstration (20 min) (optional)

Total video lecture time: 9 hours

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Day One
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6:30 am PST - Zoom opens 30 mins before course for registration and setup
7:00 am PST - Course begins / Overview of schedule, Chat, TA/Faculty Introductions
7:15 - Urotherapy Review and review of pre-course videos and labs
-- Lab 1: External palpation of the PFM; PFM with breath holding versus straining.
-- Lab 2: Defecation Dynamics- Belly Big/Belly Tight
-- Constipation review and questions
8:45 - Mini Case Study: Basic Constipation -Done in break out rooms
9:00 - Break
9:15 - Dysfunctional voiding - Double voiding Lab
10:30 - Dysfunctional voiding case study- Done in break out rooms
11:00 - Lunch
11:30 - Enuresis (Bedwetting): definition, etiology, medical-behavioral management
12:30 - Enuresis case study- Done in break out rooms
1:00 - Biofeedback evaluation & treatment
2:00 - Break
2:15 - Lab 3: PFM exercise Progressions
2:45 - Medical and therapy subjective and objective- red flags
3:15 - Day 1 Synthesis and questions
3:30 - Adjourn

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Day Two
=============================

6:30 am PST - Zoom opens 30 mins before course for registration and setup
7:00 am PST - Course begins / Review Day 1 / Overview for Day 2
8:00 - Therapy assessment, goals & plan
8:30 - Interactive skills- based on information learned thus far create a SOAP. Done in breakout rooms
9:30 - Break
9:45 - Video initial evaluation and Q&A
11:00 - Lunch
11:30 - Treatment session examples
12:30 - Break
12:45 - Labs 4-5 DRA assessment; belly breathing assessment and treatment
1:15 - Play with purpose
2:15 - Interactive case studies in breakout rooms
3:15 - Putting it all together / Day 2 Synthesis
3:30 - Adjourn

"Really wonderful course; I would say one of the best I've taken in the last 10 years as a PT. I'm very excited to use the information provided."
Celeste Norelius, PT, DPT | Pediatric Level 1 - Treatment of Bowel and Bladder Disorders - May 18-19 2024

"As always, Herman and Wallace does not disappoint with the quality and organization of this course. I left the course ready to apply concepts in the clinic the next day. I'm grateful to Dawn for sharing her knowledge to touch the lives of so many patients!"
Courtney Mattis, PT, DPT | Pediatric Level 1 - Treatment of Bowel and Bladder Disorders - May 18-19 2024

"Such a great course! I wasn't sure if this was a speciality area I wanted to pursue however after taking the course I know how impactful and needed this specialty is for children. I also know how important it is for all PT's in pediatrics to be screening for these children to prevent long term issues. Such a great course! Thanks Dawn and all the TA's for provided great content and labs!"
Ara McCarty, PT, DPT | Pediatric Level 1 - Treatment of Bowel and Bladder Disorders - May 18-19 2024

List of articles in category Pediatrics Level 1 -Treatment of Bowel and Bladder Disorders
Title
Pediatrics Level 1 - Treatment of Bowel and Bladder Disorders - Remote Course - August 23 - 24 2025
Pediatrics Level 1 - Treatment of Bowel and Bladder Disorders - Remote Course - October 25 - 26 2025

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