Instructor:
Stephanie Bush, PT, DPT, WCS, MEd

Course Description:
This two-day case-based course provides physical therapists with practical knowledge and skill in the treatment of female urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Instruction in pelvic floor muscle function, anatomy, physiology and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction will provide the clinician with skills for immediate clinical application and build the base for future courses.

This course is the first in a series of three courses designed to give the practicing clinician a comprehensive knowledge base in pelvic physical therapy treatment. Course content is evidence-based, and will promote the use of the most reliable tests and validated outcomes measures. Instruction in vaginal examination of the pelvic floor is a key component of this course. Participants will perform and experience intra-vaginal EMG biofeedback, vaginal weights, and electrical stimulation.

Brooks Pelvic Physical Therapy Certificate of Achievement:
This course is the first of three courses, Pelvic PT1, Pelvic PT2, and Pelvic PT3, designed to give the practicing clinician a comprehensive knowledge base in pelvic physical therapy evaluation and treatment. Successful completion of testing will result in a Certificate of Completion of Pelvic PT1. Successful completion of Pelvic PT1, Pelvic PT2, and Pelvic PT3 will result in a Brooks Pelvic Physical Therapy Certificate of Achievement.

Course Objectives:
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Apply knowledge of the physiology of micturition and the pathophysiology of urinary incontinence(UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) to an examination scheme for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse
  • Diagnose impairments of the pelvic floor and surrounding structures and their impact on intervention and function
  • Perform an external and internal examination and evaluation of the structures impacted by an underactive pelvic floor (note: PTA’s will not be expected to examine and evaluate internally)
  • Determine when referral to another health care provider is warranted based on the history and physical examination of a patient with UI and POP
  • Develop differential diagnoses and prognosis for recovery of neuromusculoskeletal impairments and functional losses associated with UI and POP
  • Collaborate with clients to determine rehabilitation and health and wellness goals related to their dysfunction.
  • Collaborate with clients to determine an evidenced-based plan of care, taking into consideration the client’s goals and the PT’s examination findings
  • Consider how medical management of UI and POP may impact rehabilitation interventions
  • Implement interventions such as PFM exercise, bladder training, sEMG and pressure biofeedback, electrical stimulation, and vaginal weights  for rehabilitation of pelvic floor muscle impairments
  • Utilize best risk management and infection control strategies in management of pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Identify validated dysfunction-specific outcome measures for each of the dysfunctions covered in the course, where available
  • Identify more global and general rehabilitation/prevention outcome measures for the dysfunctions covered when specific outcome measures are lacking
  • Implement best documentation practices related to management of pelvic floor dysfunction

Intended Audience:
This course is intended for Physical Therapists (PTs) only.

Disclaimer: Registrations from individuals with clinical designations not listed in the intended audience for this course may be subject to removal from the course roster without a full refund. If you are unsure or have questions related to the intended audience, please email CEU@brooksihl.org and we will be happy to help clarify!

CEUs:
This course is approved for 18 contact hours by the Florida Physical Therapy Association.

Continuing Education credit for each participant who meets the satisfactory course completion requirements (licensed in FL) will be automatically uploaded to CE Broker, which means the Florida Boards will have record of your attendance, even if you do not have your own personal CE Broker account. Course certificates will be provided at the completion of the course for those that meet the course completion requirements. Certificates will be mailed for courses that include a post-course test.

Testing, Attendance and Participation:
Course Tests: Physical Therapist participants must pass psychomotor skills testing. Participants who pass all of the testing and attend the entire course will receive a Certificate of Completion. Participants who do not pass testing but attend the entire course will be granted a Certificate of Attendance.
Psychomotor Skills Testing: Physical Therapists participants are expected to participate in all psychomotor skills testing during the course. Participant who do not pass the pre course test, psychomotor skills test, and the post course test but attend the entire course will be granted a Certificate of Attendance. Participants who pass all of the testing and attend the entire course will receive a Certificate of Completion. Physical Therapist Assistant participants may not participate in psychomotor skills testing except as a simulated patient for a physical therapist participant who is testing
Post course Online Testing: Participants are expected to complete the required post course online testing no later than 2 weeks after the end of the live course. The test will be available to all participants via Brooks University.

  • Biofeedback sensors: Participants will be issued a vaginal or rectal sensor for personal use for the sEMG and electrical stimulation labs. The cost of the sensor is included in the cost of the course.
  • Lab Participation: Participants must be prepared to fully engage in the interactive labs in this course including vaginal examination and treatment techniques. Participants must come prepared to participate as both clinician and patient. Participants, who cannot, for any reason, participate as simulated patients in lab must provide their own surrogates. Male participants must provide a surrogate for vaginal examination and treatment. Please contact Brooks to inquire about hiring a simulated patient to act as a surrogate. Pregnant participants must bring a signed permission note from her physician to participate. This course DOES include internal intra-vaginal pelvic floor lab work.
  • Attendance: Participants are expected to stay through the entire course in order to receive the most benefit from the course, and to earn all of the CEUs for the course. Anyone needing to miss more than one hour will have the number of CEUs altered on his or her Certificate, and may be required to purchase additional instruction and complete course work in order to obtain a Certificate of Completion (at the instructor’s discretion).

Enrollment:
If you are a Brooks Clinician and want to pay by cost center, please fill out this registration form and return the check and form to the Brooks IHL.

Satisfactory Course Completion:
Full course attendance (including signing the attendance sheet each day), performance demonstrations and question and answer session.

Course Evaluation/Survey:
Within 48 hours of course completion, you will receive a post course survey. The IHL values your feedback and we thank you in advance for taking the survey.