Attention: We have updated our course, Care of the Pregnant Patient, to better reflect the latest evidence and treatment techniques. We felt a name change was appropriate, and we have modified our 2020 events for this course to reflect this. Please Contact us with Questions.
Price: $495 (Early Registrant Price $475) Experience Level: Beginner Contact Hours: 15 |
Knowing how to safely examine and treat the patient who is pregnant is the goal of this 2-day beginner-level course. For the orthopedic-based practitioner, this course will solidify safe practice with pregnant clientele. For the non-orthopedic practitioner, this course will provide a foundation for working with the client experiencing common pregnancy-related conditions. The course will open with brief case scenarios that highlight the difference between examination/evaluation in the pregnant vs. non-pregnant population. Review will be provided of pregnancy-related terminology: fertilization, trimesters, medical testing/interventions, imaging, and medications. The participant who completes this course will be able to differentiate between false labor and progressive labor and describe fetal positions and stages of labor and birth. Understanding typical hormonal and systemic changes during pregnancy will be provided, included pregnancy effects on the endocrine, metabolic, cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune, neurologic/sensory, integumentary, gastrointestinal, urinary/renal, reproductive, and musculoskeletal systems.
Examination considerations and modifications specific to pregnancy will be provided, as well as specific questions to ask during history taking and strategies for identifying red flags in pregnancy. Safe positions during the examination/treatment, common posture/gait/balance changes during pregnancy, and common biomechanics and sleep positioning training are described. The participant will learn what modalities and manual therapy techniques are safe or precautioned during pregnancy. Examination, evaluation, and treatment of common pregnancy complaints will be reviewed during lecture and lab for the lumbar, pelvic, and hip region. An introduction in lecture and lab to diastasis rectus abdominis, pelvic floor dysfunction, breathing, and deep core assessment/treatment will be provided (covered in more detail during the postpartum course). All pelvic floor techniques will be instructed externally (no internal examination/treatment at this course).
To prepare the pregnant client for labor and birth, this course will offer instruction on perineal stretching, hip and trunk flexibility activities, TENS for labor, partner massage, and stress reduction techniques during labor. Doula and labor support and childbirth class options will be described. Practice during lab of positional consideration with sEMG biofeedback will help the participant guide patients in labor and birthing positions, including consideration for positional strategies for women with pre-existing musculoskeletal problems.
An introduction to high risk pregnancy and activity restriction levels (such as “bed rest”) is provided. On the other hand, instructing patients in fitness and exercise during pregnancy is also discussed in relation to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines, with ideas for specific types of exercise modification during pregnancy. The course concludes with discussion of marketing and billing needs for providing care for the pregnant population.
Audience:
This continuing education seminar is targeted to physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapist assistants, registered nurses, nurse midwives, and other rehabilitation professionals. 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.
Prerequisites: None
Are you interested in expanding your practice to treat prenatal patients? Herman & Wallace has put together a Pregnancy and Your Pelvic Floor marketing presentation to help you underscore the importance of prenatal physical therapy.
References
Boissonnault, J. S., & Blaschak, M. J. (1988). Incidence of diastasis recti abdominis during the childbearing year. Physical Therapy, 68(7), 1082-1086.
Clapp, J. F. I. (2002). Exercising through your pregnancy. Omaha, Nebraska: Addicus Books, Inc.
Krum, L., & Smith, S. (2005) Educating physical therapists in women's health: recommendations for professional (entry-level) and post-professional curricula. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 19(2), 31-41.
Spitznagle, T., Leong, F., & Van Dillen, L. (2007). Prevalence of diastasis recti abdominis in a urogynecological patient population. International Urogynecology Journal & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, 18(3), 321-328.
Upon completion of this continuing education seminar, participants will be able to:
1. Understand common definitions and medical testing used in obstetrics.
2. Avoid all contraindications for evaluation and treatment of the pregnant patient.
3. List 3 major hormones and how each affects the musculoskeletal system during pregnancy.
4. Describe the pregnancy-related physiologic changes in the cardiorespiratory, integumentary, gastrointestinal, urinary, reproductive, immune and musculoskeletal systems during pregnancy.
5. List 2 common conditions that occur in pregnancy for the spine and trunk, abdomen, pelvic floor, pelvic girdle, upper and lower extremities.
6. Instruct in safe exercises and activities for the low-risk and high-risk patient.
7. Educate the patient in methods to prepare physically for birth.
8. Complete medical screening for referral for the pregnant patient.
9. Apply and utilize surface EMG with external sensors for pelvic floor muscles.
10. Market a program of physical therapy care for the pregnant patient.
Day One: |
Day Two: |
We always want to hear from those interested in hosting our courses. We work with healthcare organizations of all types, sizes, and locations. Please, Contact us about Hosting Pregnancy Rehabilitation or any other course!
There is a considerable amount of treatment pictures and examples in supine, it would align with the supine precautions to have examples in modified positions.
- Jessa Brooks - Whitefish, MT
Longer lab time would always be great! Goal list & review goals – this was super helpful. Helpful information and thorough discussions.
- Claudia Chaloner, DPT - San Diego, CA
Great course and lots of great tips & good articles verifying patients for recommendations. Thank you!
- Sarah Olson, MSPT, DMT, OCS, FAAOMPT - Bothell, WA
A lot of great info, clinical pearls were given in this course. I’m excited to have the material needed to provide community prenatal classes; better treat my patient who are pregnant.
- LaRyn Martin, DPT, CMT - Helena, MT
This information presented in class will be incredibly beneficial for my practice. I look forward to putting all of the concepts of exam consideration and treatment/intervention strategies into use. I also enjoyed the information regarding hormonal, cardiovascular and general physiological changed presented. This was my favourite H&W course to date.
- Alison Bierbower, OTR/L, CLT - Lincoln, NE
Organized and educational course. Great guidance from lab assistants!
- Ellen Forslund, PT, DPT - Seattle, WA
Thank you for a ground work fir a great course into treating the pregnant patient.
- Jessica Yeager, PT, DPT - Dallas, TX
Great information to allow me to better serve this patient population!
- Kayla Varnado - Jefferson, LA
Sara, Emily and Lacey brough a rich variety of knowledge to the course, providing many resources that have the capacity to immediately effect positive change in the caliber of care provided to this patient population.
- Carli Cormier, PT, DPT, CSCS - Baton Rouge, LA
This was a very helpful course; I feel like I can educate/treat women who are pregnant with more confidence in PT.
- Heidi Anne Ilan, PT - Benicia, CA
Such a great course! Excited to take this knowledge with me.
- Myra Addenbrooke, PT, DPT - Kailua, HI
Loved all the content and the additional info about immediately after birth. I already treat pregnant ladies, but feel so much more confident now.
- Carly Soltman, PT, DPT - Camarillo, CA
I felt like it taught me so much for myself and my patients.
- Heather Hunt, PTA - Mission Viejo, CA
Excellent course. Looking forward to next course!
- Sara Kotschi, DPT - Milwaukee, WI
Great information – hoping to learn more information about approaches to treatment vs evaluation.
- Erin Epperly, DC - Maplewood, MN
Pam was an amazing instructor who was current with the literature and was able to explain with good detail so that everyone could understand. I feel comfortable with this to help me treat on Monday morning.
- Helene Strange PT, DPT - Alexandria, VA
This course has a good learning for me, reminds one that pain in pregnancy does not only happen in the back or pelvis and to treat the body as a whole for optimal outcomes.
- Megan Gottlieb,PT, DPT - Endicott, NY
What a great class and very knowledgeable instructor! It was great seeing the biofeedback lab and experiencing.
- Jessica Shepler MOTR/L - Superior, NE
Even after the 1st day I already had a lot of valuable information I could apply to current patients. I texted a co-worker and my student about interventions because I was so excited, at the end of the 1st day.
- Emily Deno, DPT - Owatonna, MN
Such a comprehensive, well rounded course.
- Sarah Cornwell, PTA - West Lafayette, IN
Very well presented, Informative course.
- Jennie Murray, DPT - Santa Rosa, CA
I feel so much more confident and excited to work with women who are expecting now that. I took this course. I also feel much more comfortable and prepared going into my own pregnancy.
- Amanda Jordan PT, DPT - ALBANY, OR
I really like Jenni’s mindfulness of protecting our bodies! Joints and manual work but it’s always a good reminder.
- Lisa English, PT, DPT - Livermore, CA
I thought the course was very thorough relevant to include with of my patients. It was a great experience for me as well being 27 wks pregnant when I took the course. It is always great to be able to experience what our patients may not be feeling. Great course, great group of PT’s, great teacher!
- Summer Lamborn PT, DPT - Wilmington, NC
Allison is really knowledgeable and provide great information!
-Christine Hasselbach, DPT, OCS, CLT - Eagle, CO
This is my 3rd how course live attended and it did not disappointed!
-Amanda Lasseter, PT, DPT - Phoenix, AZ
The care of the pregnant patient was a well crafted lecture series that has provided increased knowledge to better treat the pregnant women.On another notw Allison ariail is a gem of a presenter,good knowledge and was willing to have her personal knowledge + experience. Thank you Herman & Wallace for providingsuch quality instructors!