The Certificate in Advanced Musculoskeletal Management of the Pelvic Girdle is designed for physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapist assistants, and other healthcare providers who are interested in or currently working with patients with pelvic girdle dysfunction, including SI joint pain, piriformis syndrome, hip/back pain not responding to typical treatment, and abdominal pain. This certification combines a strong foundation in musculoskeletal best practice and current evidence with pain science and external assessment of and intervention for the pelvic floor to equip practitioners for success with even the most challenging pelvic girdle challenges. This program would also be highly beneficial for providers who already treat the pelvic floor internally but want to more fully understand how the pelvic floor fits into the rest of the body and provide a more comprehensive treatment package for their patients. If you’re looking for our comprehensive Pelvic Health Specialist Certification, learn more here.

There is a myth that the only way to address the pelvic floor is through an internal assessment, which has been a significant barrier to adequate access to patients. Knowing how to screen for pelvic floor dysfunction and provide pelvic floor-informed exercise instruction and patient education is both within the scope of musculoskeletal rehabilitation and highly beneficial to patients. This certification seeks to narrow the perceived gap by giving non-pelvic health specialists the ability to screen for pelvic floor dysfunction in their patient population, a comprehensive external toolbox for treatment, and the knowledge of when a patient needs to be referred to an internal practitioner as well as giving a strong orthopaedic skill set to current pelvic practitioners who desire it.

This certification seeks to provide learners with a comprehensive toolbox to enable best practice care for patients with a variety of symptoms involving the pelvic girdle, hips, spine, and abdomen. This certification also comprehensively covers care for patients during and after pregnancy as well as elements of best practice for high-level exercise design for patients of all activity levels, from sedentary to high-level athletes. Learners will experience comprehensive didactic content, exciting hands-on/lab experiences, and a thorough evidence update. The certification may either be completed entirely online utilizing EIM’s Virtual Lab experience or with a single weekend immersive lab.

Outcomes

• Screen for pelvic floor involvement in patients with low back pain, hip pain, and posterior pelvic girdle pain.
• Perform an external assessment of the entire motor control system, including the pelvic floor.
• Understand and incorporate best practices for motor control training in patients with non-optimal movement strategies.
• Screen for a need for a pelvic health specialist in their patient population.
• Be able to treat patients during and after pregnancy for musculoskeletal pain.