Aspire Toward and Beyond Capstone

Most practitioners know that Capstone is the advanced level course that caps off the Pelvic Function Series. This article covers two main questions:

Why should you aspire to Capstone?
What is the course path to Capstone?
Where do you go after Capstone?

Why should you aspire to Capstone?
If you are new to pelvic rehabilitation or an experienced practitioner, you should think about taking Pelvic Function Capstone. For beginner practitioners who are interested in completing the Pelvic Function Series, the Capstone path will take you from the introductory Pelvic Function Level 1, where you learn intra-vaginal exam techniques, through Pelvic Function Level 2A, which includes an introduction to anorectal examination. AND you can tailor your course journey to your patient demographics.

For our advanced practitioners, Capstone is an excellent way to round out your course journey and really focus on those more advanced topics that you see in pelvic rehabilitation such as endometriosis, infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), surgery complications, gynecological cancers, neuroanatomy, and the role of pharmacology and nutrition in pelvic health/pelvic pain.

What is the course path to Capstone?

The Pelvic Function Series includes six courses, but you do not need to take all the courses in order to register for Pelvic Function Capstone. The Pelvic Function Courses include:

Pelvic Function Level 1: Introduction to Pelvic Health. Intra-vaginal exam will be introduced in labs.
Pelvic Function Modalities: The Pelvic Health Toolkit. This is an in-person lab course featuring a variety of modalities.
Pelvic Function Level 2A: Colorectal Pelvic Health and Pudendal Neuralgia, Coccyx Pain. Anorectal internal exam will be introduced in labs.
Pelvic Function Level 2B: Urogynecologic Topics in Pelvic Health.
Pelvic Function Level 2C: the Male Pelvic Floor and Men’s Pelvic Health.
Pelvic Function Series Capstone: Integration of Advanced Concepts in Pelvic Health.

While you do need to take Pelvic Function Level 1 first - you should choose your next course based on your patient demographics. A lot of practitioners see patients with fecal incontinence or coccyx pain, and so after PF1, they may choose to prioritize PF2A as the next step in their journey. Others may see patients with penile pain or incontinence post-prostatectomy and may choose to take 2C as their next step.

The course path options:

· If you have taken PF1 and 2B, you must take 2A prior to Capstone.
· If I have taken PF1, 2A, and 2B - you may advance to Capstone.
· If you have taken PF1, 2A, and the Male Pelvic Floor course, you may advance to Capstone
· If you have taken PF1, 2A, 2B, and the Male Pelvic Floor course, you may advance to Capstone

Where do you go after Capstone?
If you are in the elite few that have taken Capstone, then congratulations! You may be asking yourself “Where do I go now?” There are a few options depending on your interests.

Here are some recommended courses:

· Ramona Horton’s Visceral Mobilization Series – if you are looking for a fascial course for hands-on skills
· Nerves and the Nervous System Courses – Pudendal Neuralgia, Sacral Nerve, and Lumbar Nerve
· Oncology of the Pelvic Floor Series
· Parkinson Disease
· Pain Science for the Chronic Pelvic Pain Population
· Pharmacologic Considerations for the Pelvic Health Provider
· Nutrition Perspectives for the Pelvic Rehab Therapist

If you are thinking of further certification then it may be time to look into the Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification process. While there is no required coursework one must complete to sit for the PRPC exam, having several courses from beginner to advanced levels under your belt is certainly helpful.

Ready, Set, Go!
There’s nothing left to do but do it! Sign up for a Capstone course with HW.

The weekend of October 19-20 is the next scheduled Capstone Course that has several satellites and a self-hosted option for attendance:

We look forward to seeing you in a course soon!