the Pelvic Pain Puzzle

Pelvic pain is a common, yet challenging area of practice. The triggers of patients’ pain and dysfunction can be multiple and the presentation a complex puzzle. Patients are often embarrassed to speak about their symptoms which means allied health has a unique opportunity to spend more time with the patient to develop the rapport and trust required for this intimate area.

In this course your will review the embryology, anatomy, physiology and common pathologies of the pelvic region to help unravel the pelvic pain puzzle for your patients. Learn about the function of the female pelvis and common presentations including pain with sitting, walking and sex, bladder and bowel symptoms, musculo-skeletal pain such as pelvic girdle pain, and visceral pain such as dysmenorrhea and endometriosis.

Elizabeth Howard has been practicing as an osteopath and pain educator for over 20 years including at the Women’s Health and Research Institute of Australia since 2013. She has taught at multiple Australian universities and presented allied health CPD extensively.

The Pelvic Puzzle is the first in her 2-part pelvic pain series and will cover;

• Embryological review of the pelvis to understand normal functions such as walking, waste elimination and reproduction
• Normal sensory, motor and visceral function and the influence hormones have on the tissues of pelvis and perineum, including the skin
• Perineal functions and key clinical indicators in the history to indicate when referral is required
• The most common pain presentations and how to help restore normal function
• An introduction to common causes of painful sex

This course has a strong practical focus and includes appropriate manual therapy techniques that you can use with confidence in your practice. Internal techniques will not be demonstrated. The Pelvic Pain Puzzle is an excellent continuation for those that have attended Liz’s Pain & Pregnancy course. Concepts and techniques will be further explored and men’s pelvic health covered in her upcoming Advanced Pelvic Care course.

Learning Outcomes

• Key clinical signs and symptoms of pelvic and perineal pain
• Conservative management protocols including manual therapy
• Interventional management and when it is indicated
• Referral guidelines with tips for writing referral letters
• How to develop your interdisciplinary team (in-house or external)
• Effective manual treatment techniques and protocols

Course Details

The Pelvic Pain Puzzle course is applicable to all allied health manual therapy practitioners. It includes practical examination and treatment protocols you will be able to use with confidence in your practice. Concepts and techniques will be further explored and men’s pelvic health covered in Elizabeth Howard’s Advanced Pelvic Care course. Internal techniques will not be demonstrated.

The course will run from 8:30AM to 4PM. Places are limited to 20 attendees. It includes morning and afternoon tea, printed course notes and an e-certificate of attendance for your CPD records. The course can be counted as 6 hours CPD.

Feedback

I thought the course was fantastic! Incredibly well presented, very concise and interactive, and left me feeling confident and enthusiastic about applying it to my practice.

Jane Edmondson

Liz is an inspiring and engaging presenter, she shares extensive clinical knowledge of pelvic and perineal pain by way of case studies and current evidence-based practice protocols. Liz relates current clinical application models for chronic pain seamlessly with familiar osteopathic principles. This course has helped me to develop my confidence in diagnosing treating patients with pelvic and perineal pain in a way that is immediately transferable to my every day practice.

Bimbi Joy

Loved that it was not too overwhelming and built on lots of techniques we have all learnt! Best course I've been to in a while.

Rebecca Brugman

I especially liked the practical techniques/assessment and exercises that we learnt and, it was very nicely presented I found it easy to be engaged but not intimidating at all!

Jacqueline Green