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Continuing Education Courses > Pregnancy and Postpartum Considerations for High Intensity Athletics - Remote Course

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Pregnancy and Postpartum Considerations for High Intensity Athletics - Remote Course

  • Description

  • Objectives

  • Schedule

  • Instructor

Price: $225.00
Experience Level: Beginner
Contact Hours: 8.25

This one-day remote continuing education course is designed to educate practitioners on the unique considerations of pregnant and postpartum athletes engaging in high intensity interval training (HIIT). In this course, which includes live Zoom lecture and lab content as well as prerecorded videos, participants will review the current literature, discuss the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum high intensity athletes, and learn how to most effectively treat these patients as practitioners. The main focus of this course will be to learn how exercising throughout pregnancy, or returning to exercise postpartum may look different for a high intensity athlete versus a non HIIT athlete.

Participants will discuss how anatomical and hormonal changes will affect training for the pregnant and postpartum athlete, and review various modifications for this population. We will also discuss how various stresses placed on the body during these activities may affect pelvic floor muscle function, and review various pressure management strategies that can be utilized during high intensity interval training. The lab will be broken up into pregnancy considerations and postpartum considerations. During the pregnancy lab, we will review specific exercise modifications for pregnancy, utilization of breathwork to properly support the pelvic floor during pregnancy, and review how to assess for and tape for diastasis recti. In the postpartum lab we will review how to determine proper activity modification based on ability to manage pressure, review specific activity modifications and breathwork, review accessory work for return to activity, and discuss how to assess pelvic organ prolapse in standing.

Audience: This course is targeted for physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, physical therapy and occupational therapy students.

Prerequisites: All pre-recorded lectures in Teachable for this course must be watched before the Live Component of the course. See the Schedule tab for the current list of pre-recorded videos

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

  1. Educate practitioners on special considerations for the pregnant and postpartum athlete when participating in/returning to high intensity exercise.
  2. Review anatomical changes associated with pregnancy & postpartum that may affect ability to safely participate in desired exercise
  3. Discuss evaluation and assessment considerations for pregnant and postpartum high intensity athletes
  4. Discuss common conditions affected by pressure management in high-intensity athletes during pregnancy and postpartum including diastasis recti and pelvic organ prolapse
  5. Educate on treatment and home exercise programs for patient population with potential modifications for exercise
  6. Discuss collaborative approaches with local coaches/trainers

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 the Course Begins
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These video lectures in Teachable must be viewed in-full prior to the course
Total video lecture time: 1.5 hours

1) Pregnancy Anatomy Review (31 min)
2) Review of Conditions that may Limit Exercise (18 min)
3)Postpartum Anatomy Review (36 min)

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Day of the Course
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7:30 am PST - Zoom opens 30 mins before course for registration and setup
8:00 am PST - Course begins / Introduction, goals, and objectives
8:15 - Review of conditions that may limit participation in high intensity exercise during pregnancy (SPD, placenta previa, blood pressure changes)
9:00 - When to begin modifications during pregnancy (Olympic lifting, plyometrics, and gymnastics)
9:30 - Review of Signs and symptoms a load is beyond the patient’s tissue threshold
10:00 - BREAK
10:15 - Review of external support devices that may be beneficial to the appropriate patient
10:30 - Pregnancy lab
11:30 - LUNCH
12:30 - Postpartum considerations for return to exercise: prior level of fitness, healing time (what the research says)
1:15 - Pressure management and breath-work strategies for high intensity exercise postpartum
1:45 - Review of loads placed on the tissues with different types of high intensity exercise
2:15 - BREAK
2:30 - Review of modifications, and how to determine when to modify, and external support devices
3:00 - Postpartum lab
4:00 - Post-test and wrap up
4:15 - Adjourn

Emily McElrath PT, DPT, MTC, CIDN

Emily McElrath

 

Emily McElrath PT, DPT, MTC, CIDN, is native of New Orleans and received her undergraduate degree in Athletic Training at the University of Southern Mississippi and went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. She is highly trained in Sports and Orthopedics and has a passion for helping women achieve optimal sports performance. Emily is certified in manual therapy and dry needling, which allows her to provide a wide range of treatment skills including joint and soft tissue mobilization. She is an avid runner and Cross-fitter and has personal experience modifying these activities during pregnancy and postpartum. While not working, Emily enjoys time with her husband and two kids.