Introduction to Women's Pelvic Health

Part 1 (online course): $300 course fee (plus tax).

Course Fee Payment

A 100% refund of the $300 course fee is available to students who withdraw before the first day of the course. Withdrawal requests during the first 3 weeks of the course will be refunded 50% of the registration fee. After 3 weeks (mid-point of the course) no refund will be provided.

Part 2 (2 day lab): $600.

Lab Fee Payment

A full refund is provided up until one week before the scheduled lab date.  Any refund requests after that will be charged a $80 administration fee.

Now accepting applications for Part 1 (online course) and Part 2 Lab.

This portion of this course covers theoretical knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and function of the healthy pelvis and pelvis floor and pathophysiology mechanisms of dysfunction.  Participants will gain a better understanding of the factors involved in patient assessment during the clinical history section.

Prerequisites: None.

Content Areas:

• Introduction to bladder diary
• Anatomy of the bladder, urethra, perineum, vagina and uterus
• Types of urinary incontinence
• Normal pelvic floor
• Pelvic floor dysfunction Micturition
• Medical evaluation and procedures
• Pharmacological management
• Urodynamics
• Surgery
• Mechanical devices 
• Clinical history
• Skin care and conditions
• Containment products
• Pelvic floor exercises

Vaginal and rectal exams will be demonstrated and practiced. Participants will practice on each other and should come prepared to be both clinician and patient for internal and external sessions.  Behavioral techniques and pelvic floor muscle re-education for patients with pelvic floor dysfunction will be discussed and practiced.

Prerequisite: Part 1.

Lab Fee Payment

Part 1: All online learning activities will be delivered asynchronously so students can work through the learning activities at their own pace.  Students will be provided with clear learning objectives and learning activities for each module. Students can also ask questions through an online question and answer forum which will be monitored by the course instructor.

Part 2: consists of a 2-day lab.

There are no formal assessment requirements. Instead, students will be required to complete a knowledge check quiz before moving onto the following module. To successfully complete the course students will need to progress through all modules and knowledge checks within the duration of the course.

To apply to Part 1 use the application link below to submit some brief contact information via the dept consent form. Please complete and submit the form.

Once your dept consent form is approved you will be emailed information on how to proceed to course payment.

Part 1 - Application (dept consent form)

Dianne MacDonald, PT.  

Dianna has been a physiotherapist for 45 years, 27 of them in women’s health. She is the Rehabilitation Team leader for women’s health at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in the Lois Hole Hospital for women. She developed the outpatient clinic for the treatment of incontinence in women and men. She authored “In Control Again”, a personal workbook for the re-education of the pelvic floor. She has contributed to public education and awareness of incontinence and menopause on TV and public forums. Dianna has lectured, organized and participated in many national and international conferences, courses and workshops. Recent research activities include “Managing Urinary Incontinence in elderly village women in Bangladesh: A Feasibility Study for a community exercise-based intervention.” (co-investigator) and “Physiotherapy for Stress Urinary Incontinence: Feasibility Study for a Randomized Controlled Trial of Hip External Rotation Exercise Training versus Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Training” (principle investigator).

Upon completion of Part 1 and/or Part 2 participants will be issued a faculty digital certificate noting the number of educational hours.