Introduction to assessment and treatment of the pelvic floor
Effective management of urinary incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction requires a sound knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the pelvic floor and mechanisms which control continence. The course aims to provide physiotherapists with the opportunity to improve their knowledge and skills required to identify risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunction, implement preventative strategies and treat symptomatic patients.
Please be advised, this course includes a practical pelvic floor examination.
Please be advised, this course includes a practical pelvic floor examination.
Learning outcomes
- To understand the anatomy of the pelvic floor, bladder and bowel
- To understand the relationship between normal bladder function and teh muscles of the pelvic floor
- To understand the link between transversus abdominus and the pelvic floor
- To be able to differentiate the different types of incontinence
- To be able to interpret diagnostic tests such as urodynamics and pelvic floor ultrasound
- To understand the types of urogenital prolapse and the management
- To be able to perform a physiotherapy assessment of pelvic floor muscle function
- To understand defaecation dynamics
- To be able to apply the above knowledge to plan and implement appropriate treatment for patients with pelvic floor dysfunction
- To be able to evaluate the efficacy of interventions
Prerequisites
- This course is only available to qualified and AHPRA registered physiotherapists.
Presenters
Jennifer Nucifora
Jenny Nucifora B.App.Sci.-Phty., M.Phty.St. Jenny has been the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist of the GCHHS Physiotherapy Led Pelvic Health Clinic at the Robina Hospital since December 2016. This part time primary contact role within the urogynaecology team was established to provide timely conservative management interventions as part of a strategy to reduce the urogynaecology waiting lists. Jenny continues to work part time in her private practice, Focus On Women Physiotherapy, on the Gold Coast. Jenny is a passionate advocate for the development of this specialty area within physiotherapy. She has co-presented the “Introduction to the Assessment and Treatment of the Pelvic Floor” course, for physiotherapists, for more than 10 years. Her current research interests are in changing the model of care for women with pelvic floor dysfunction, with the aim of improving their access to more timely care, to ensure good quality care, and in turn improving patient flow through and having a positive effect on the gynaecology department of the public health service.
Janelle Greitschus
Janelle Greitschus BPhty APAM is a physiotherapist with a special interest in Women's, Mens and Pelvic Health and 30 years of experience in this area. Janelle currently works as a clinical lead senior physiotherapist in a primary contact role at QEII Jubilee Hospital Brisbane - seeing patients with pelvic floor dysfunction who are on Gynaecology, Urology or Colorectal waiting lists. She also works in private practice treating patients with pelvic floor dysfunction including incontinence, prolapse or obstructed defaecation. Janelle is a sessional lecturer at the Griffith University, Gold Coast and has been presenter of the Assessment and Treatment of the Pelvic Floor Course for the APA for almost 20 years. Janelle's research on the outcomes of the Gynaecology Physiotherapy Screening clinic was published in the International Continence Society Abstracts 2017 and presented in Florence, Italy.
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