This continuing education course is comprised of 10 hours of prerecorded lectures followed by 14 hours of live, interactive remote learning which will be completed by groups meeting at a specific satellite location OR self hosted location. The instructor will be presenting to all satellites from a remote location via Zoom. Participants in this event will meet in person to watch the Zoom presentation in the same location and participate in labs together, with the instructor guiding remotely. It is expected that participants will only register for satellites in which they are within driving distance, and adhere to all state and local COVID guidelines, including wearing a mask at all times during the course.
This course was designed to provide a thorough introduction to female pelvic floor function, dysfunction and treatment interventions. This course is geared to the therapist who wants to synthesize the information and apply it to individual treatment programs for urinary incontinence or the musculoskeletal components of urogynecologic pain syndromes such as chronic pelvic pain (CPP), vulvar pain, and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). This continuing education seminar teaches evaluation and treatment interventions by instructional assessment of the pelvic floor muscles with internal vaginal examination, and SEMG biofeedback assessment (please note that, for the time being, SEMG is being demonstrated in video lectures; for hands-on learning, consider attending Biofeedback for Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction). The information is immediately applicable to clinical practice.
Presentation of evidence-based evaluation and treatment techniques will be emphasized. Outcome measures and quality of life questionnaires will be presented for both urinary incontinence and pain syndromes. Daily lab time allows for supervised instruction of pelvic floor muscle evaluation with external palpation and internal vaginal examination of pelvic floor musculature. For each condition the therapist will learn to: recognize the key signs and symptoms that lead to impairment, functional limitations and disabilities; use an evaluation/outcome tool; and perform a suggested protocol of treatment interventions. Clinical treatment interventions will include therapeutic exercise, external manual therapy, patient related education/behavioral instructions and electrotherapeutic modalities.
Course Curriculum
Kimberly Glow PT, DPT
Kimberly M. Glow, PT, DPT is a Boston-based physical therapist with a focus on both pelvic floor dysfunction and orthopedics. Kim graduated with her doctorate in physcial therapy from MGHIHP after completing her undergraduate work in Classics at UNH. She believes in the healing power of movement, and the power of the biopsychosocial connection. She has a passion for seamlessly treating pelvic floor dysfunction and orthopedic dysfunction as inter-related components. As an auspicious educator, Kim has been involved with many community-based education programs, including lectures and demonstrations to local yoga studios during instructor trainings, postpartum support groups, and support groups for those afflicted with neurological disease. In 2017, Kim was invited to guest lecture on the topic of “Physical Therapy’s Role in Treatment of Vulvovaginal Dermatological Conditions” during the American Urogynecologic Society’s annual conference, and has also lectured to medical residents at Tufts Medical Center.
Kimberly has a special passion for treating athletes with pelvic floor dysfunction, and returning them to the sport or movement style they most love. Her practice includes treatment of bowel, bladder, sexual, breast, and abdominal dysfunction for both men and women, as well as all breadths of orthopedic dysfunction. She has a passion for lifelong learning, and education. Currently, Kimberly practices out of Massachusetts General Hospital.
Kim enjoys her spare time with her husband and puppy, camping, and reading. Kim currently practices out of Rhode Island.