This one-day continuing education course is designed to help the therapist understand the development of the diaphragm and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) as they relates to core function and continence in children. Special needs children or those with musculoskeletal asymmetries frequently have a weak core, postural compensations and develop poor bowel and bladder habits. Did you ever consider activating a child’s pelvic floor musculature to increase their core strength and control, and improve their functional ability? Are you able to define what correct core activation is? Learn how to connect the ribcage, the diaphragm, and the pelvic floor for proper core activation. This seminar includes instruction in anatomy and development of the diaphragm and its relationship to the pelvic floor/core. Focus on assessment and treatment of the core/breathing and the PFM in a school-based setting will be provided. This includes how to identify constipation and/or dysfunctional voiding habits and understanding how managing constipation can improve posture core control and breathing. The information presented in the course applies to children who have been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, ASD, Hypotonia and more.

Prerequisities:
None. This is a beginner level course.

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. This course is open to those with no pelvic rehab training. 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. This course is designed for the pediatric therapist who is not planning to delve into pediatric pelvic floor treatment but would like to better screen and understand how bowel/bladder dysfunction can contribute to other musculoskeletal dysfunctions and how to treat them.

References:

• Robin SG, Keller C, Zwiener R, et al. Prevalence of Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Utilizing the Rome IV Criteria. J Pediatr 2018; 195:134.
• Aljuraifani R, Stafford RE, Hall LM, van den Hoorn W, Hodges PW. Task-specific differences in respiration-related activation of deep and superficial pelvic floor muscles. J Appl Physiol 126: 1343-1351, 2019. First published March 14, 2019; doi:10.1152/ japplphysiol.00704.2018.
• Bennett S, Wantana S, Nittaya T. et al. Diaphragmatic mobility in children with cerebral palsy and differing motor performance levels. Resp Pys and Neurobio (266) 2019 163-170.
• Little LM, Benton K, Manuel-Rubio M, Saps M, Fishbein M Contribution of Sensory Processing to Chronic Constipation in Preschool Children. J Peds. 2019 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.03.020
• Pilarski JQ, Leiter JC, Fregosi RF. Muscles of breathing: development, function, and patterns of activation. Comp Phys 2019;(9)1025-1080.
• Zar-Kessler C, Kuo B, Cole E, Benedix A, Belkind-Gerson, J. Benefit of pelvic floor physical therapy in pediatric patients with dyssynergic defecation constipation. 2019 Dig Dis https://doi.org/10.1159/000500121