Course series

Better Outcomes Through Accurate PFM Assessment:

Terminology Update

PT/PTA CEUs

  • 3 hours
  • Click below for CEU specifics for each state.

Access

  • Immediate access
  • Unlimited access to course contents 

Audience

  • All pelvic health providers
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BONUS: Live Office Hours with Beth Shelly

While all of the course content is pre-recorded, you can jump on any or all of these office hour sessions!  
Join Beth live for an hour of questions and answers to deepen your understanding of Pelvic Therapy. Bring your questions, cases, and queries. These sessions are intended to deepen thought processes and advance clinical practice.  Meetings will be held via Zoom and are open to all Pelvic Guru members free of charge. Recordings available in the course.

    • Session One - March 5th at 7PM CST - PFM Assessment
    • Session Two - April 2 at 7PM CST – EMG Assessment and Treatment
    • Session Three - May 7 at 7PM CST– Bladder Dairy Analysis and Treatment



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What to expect:

Did you know there are new standardized terms for pelvic floor assessments? This course highlights the key elements of: 


𝗔𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 (𝗜𝗖𝗦) 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

This 44 page document was developed by an incredibly gifted group of multidisciplinary pelvic health professionals from around the world and sets the INTERNATIONAL GOLD STANDARD for terminology/documentation for pelvic floor assessments.
Here are some highlights of nuances and changes in terms (and there’s so much more!):


  • TENDER POINT (move away from “trigger point”- it’s outdated)
  • Overactive and underactive pelvic floor - terms to be used with EMG testing only (not digital exam)
  • Hypertonic/Hypotonic - Only used for those with neurologic presentations (not general pfm terms)
  • Myalgia = pain without increased muscle tone.
  • Tension myalgia = pain with increased muscle tone (move away from tight or shortened).
  • Spasm can be used but it’s a spectrum and it’s tricky to be objective.

     

What people are saying:

It is vital to keep up with standardized terms for pelvic floor assessments. This document by the ICS and associated course help with keeping consistency across multiple disciplines and ensure we are keeping up to date with how to assess the pelvic floor effectively to create the best treatment plans. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Dr. Shelly highlighted the most crucial parts of the gold standard document in a way that we can apply clinically immediately. Every pelvic health professional should take this. I feel honored that we had an opportunity to have the first sneak peek of the materials. Highly recommend this!

- Tracy Sher, PT, DPT, CSCS 
This course was so good! Dr. Beth Shelly takes a detailed, evidence-based, and nuanced look at PFM assessment, and provides a great update to correct terminology. Having this information presented in such an organized way helps to be more accurate with evaluation and also directs the appropriate treatments, and it has already been applied in the clinic! The course also goes beyond the overly simplistic “overactive/underactive” binary that is so often espoused in pelvic health courses. I hope this course will be a huge success so that more pelvic physical and occupational therapists can provide better care for their patients, as well as utilize more standardized nomenclature when collaborating with other professionals.

- Terri Robertson Elder PT, DPT, CLT-LANA
This course was really wonderful. It feels really great to know that we're working toward coming together as a profession to make our communication more clear. It will be essential for pelvic therapists moving forward to have this training so that we can be more precise about our findings and to get more specific feedback in case consultation. I highly recommend getting on the same page with the leaders in pelvic PT. 

- Heather Edwards, PT, MPT, CSC

What will you learn?

OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • List essential PFM clinical assessment techniques
  • Recognize the importance of accurate assessment in the development of plan of care
  • Apply PFM assessment terms to selected clinical presentations of PFM weakness and spasm 
Be able to teach classes or work one-on-one!

     

What people are saying:

Dr. Shelly's course is must take regardless of experience and expertise in the field. It helped clear nuances in the pelvic floor terminology and changed the way I document. The ICD document in reference in the course is the hard work of gems of our profession and Dr. Shelly does an incredible job at explaining each part with help of case studies and discussions. A must take course for all pelvic health professionals including MD, Nurses, OT, PT and everyone involved in treating pelvic floor!

- Bhavti Soni, PT, DPT, PHC
I highly recommend this course to pelvic health practitioners. It will guide you through the meaning of the most up to date terms for standardizing accurate diagnosis. This step by step guide will inform practice and help all therapists navigating and implementing the updated report.

- Susan Clinton, PT, DScPT, OCS, WCS, FAAOMPT, NBCHWC
I found Beth's course to be helpful, specific with respect to the research, and had a pleasing amount of realism and clinical application. As a non-internal pelvic PT, I think this short course is helpful for everyone who works with people with pelvic health conditions so we can use a common, evidence-based language in our approach.

- Antony Lo, APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
Meet the instructor

Dr. Beth Shelly, PT, DPT, WCS, BCB-PMD

Dr. Beth Shelly, PT, DPT, WCS, BCB-PMD, is a doctor of physical therapy and board certified in women's health and pelvic EMG biofeedback. Dr Shelly has been working in the field for over 30 years and has authored many chapters and professional articles and has taught many continuing education programs. She has been active in ICS on the Physiotherapy and Standardization Steering committees. Beth is co-chair of the recently published ICS standard terms for Pelvic Floor Muscle assessment and is an author of several other standard terms documents. Dr Shelly lectures to medical professionals all over the world and owns a private practice in the United States where she treats outpatients with all forms of pelvic floor dysfunctions.
Patrick Jones - Course author

Who is on the Q&A Panels?

  • Dr. Tracy Sher, PT, DPT, CSCS
  • Dr. Susan Coel Clinton,  PT, DScPT, OCS, WCS, FAAOMPT, NBCHWC
  • Heather Edwards, PT, MPT, CSC
  • Antony Lo, APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
  • Dr. Terri Roberson Elder, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA
  • Dr. Bhavti Soni,  PT, DPT, PHC

FAQs

What is the Cancelation & Refund Policy?
Individual GPHAM webinars are non-refundable. 
For other courses, the option for a full refund is available within 48 hours of purchase, however it is non-refundable upon either of these conditions:
  • You have viewed more than 50% of the course material
  • You have already claimed your CE certificate
If you need additional assistance with a refund or course concern, please email courses@pelvicguru.com.
Will there be any part of this live course where I could be recorded?
Live participation parts of courses may be recorded live and screenshots maybe be taken by the instructor or the host. If your camera is on, your microphone is on, or you type comments in the comment section, your participation will be part of that recording. If you do not wish to be part of this recording, you will be responsible for keeping your video and audio recording OFF during any live recorded sessions. 
How can I use the handouts, videos, and course supplemental material?
You will be provided with online content and recordings of the course as well as slides and material related to the course. This material is for your personal use only.  Please do not use clips of video, screen captures, screenshots, or copying in any way, that you might be presenting it as your own (whether or not it is for financial gain). Sharing a screenshot to social media that is credited to the instructor and/or Pelvic Guru, LLC is acceptable. If you would like to use any of this content for an independent project, you need to discuss this directly with Pelvic Guru and the instructor of the course. 
Will I have to exercise or have a space to move for this course? 
Some of the Pelvic Guru Academy courses have sections in them in which you will have the option of doing movement at various levels. Understand that all physical therapy, rehabilitative, and strength training instruction and use of all facilities and equipment shall be done at you own risk, and please be physically and medically able to undertake any and all physical therapy, rehabilitative, and strength training instruction provided in the course.