This 2.5 day, 22-hour course provides the physical therapist with an in-depth understanding of how specific PT interventions during the antepartum and intrapartum periods may affect birth outcomes and postpartum maternal health. Practical, evidence-based knowledge and advanced skills in providing therapeutic and educational support are included. Didactic instruction includes: maternal pelvis anatomic characteristics and biomechanical considerations for childbirth, orthopedic diagnosis considerations, causes and management of dysfunctional labor, psychosocial considerations in childbirth, labor and vaginal delivery, cesarean delivery, and early postpartum interventions. Instructor to participant ratio for labs will be 1:8 to ensure valuable attention to each participant. Labs offer skills that are immediately applicable and include: preparation for childbirth, positions for promoting efficient labor, hands-on interventions for dysfunctional labor and labor with orthopedic considerations, physical and mental coping including hands-on techniques. All participants will participate in comprehensive standardized patient lab scenarios to demonstrate skills integration competency. Upon completion of this course, participants will have expanded therapeutic and educational strategies to support the pregnant client in optimizing labor, delivery, and acute postpartum recovery.
For additional information: http://www.womenshealthapta.org/obipt/