Treatment of Bowel, Bladder, and Pelvic Floor Disorders
Anatomical, Physiological, and Behavioral Foundations for Clinical Practice
June 19 - 22, 2013
Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
An intensive 4-day study of the anatomical and pyscho-physiological principles essential for the development of effective treatment programs.
This course fulfills the didactic training and practicum components for the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) certification in Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction (PMDB) Biofeedback.
A benefit for the PT Faculty Student Scholarship Fund to assist graduate students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.
Course description
This course is designed for licensed medical and health care professionals who would like to expand and integrate their knowledge of the scientific basis for the treatment of bowel, bladder and pelvic floor disorders. The course is limited to, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and physician assistants who are either working in, or preparing for practice in this area.
Course objectives participants will learn
- Anatomical, physiological and psychological mechanisms that contribute to various bowel, bladder and pelvic pain disorders.
- Specific musculoskeletal problems that contribute to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
- To describe the types and etiologies of various bowel, bladder and pelvic pain disorders.
- Basic principles of surface electromyography (sEMG) related to behavioral treatment for bowel, bladder and pelvic pain disorders.
- Functional and physiological assessment protocols for disorders of the bowel, bladder and the pelvic floor.
- Biofeedback and behavioral strategies used to treat the various bowel, bladder and pelvic floor disorders for men and women and across various age groups ranging from pediatric to geriatric.
Course schedule and content
Check-in for course 7:30-8:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 19
Wednesday, June 19 (8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)
- Introduction to patient populations
- Anatomy of the lower abdominal wall, pelvic girdle, muscles and ligament structures
- Normal physiology and muscle control related to urogenital/bowel function
- Introduction to Biofeedback and Learning Theory
- Biofeedback and Distress
- Anatomy lab with prosected cadaver study
Thursday, June 20 (8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)
- sEMG instrumentation-physiologic basis, terms/concepts
- Principles of sEMG sensor placement & training procedures
- Clinical Disorders: Bladder Dysfunction: signs, etiology, symptoms
- Diagnostic testing of bladder function
- Medical & behavioral treatments for bladder disorders
- Clinical Disorders: Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes:
- Mechanisms of arousal, distress and pain
- Classification of pain disorders
- Neuromuscular relaxation strategies
Friday, June 212 (8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)
- Musculoskeletal contributions to pelvic girdle and pelvic floor muscle (PFM) Dysfunction
- Medical & behavioral treatments for pelvic pain disorders
- Therapeutic exercise
- Electrical Modalities for PFM pain and dysfunction
- Infection control procedures related to sEMG of the PFMs
- Surface EMG PFM assessment and training practicum
- Therapeutic exercise and neuromuscular relaxation practicum
Saturday, June 22 (8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
- sEMG exercise and neuromuscular practicums continue
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Clinical Disorders: Bowel dysfunction: signs, etiology, symptoms
- Diagnostic testing of bowel function
- Medical & behavioral treatments for bowel disorders
- Integration of functional assessment with sEMG data and treatment planning
- Preparation for clinical practice, ethics, steps to pursuing BCIA certification
32 contact hours pending by the WPTA
During the practicum, each candidate will perform and undergo an internal pelvic floor muscle assessment and sEMG pelvic floor muscle assessment and training. Vaginal and/or anal sEMG recording sensors will be used for the sEMG assessment and training. The practicum will be performed in groups of 2-3 persons with provisions for privacy. Ample time is provided to complete the lab and teaching assistants will be available to provide students with individualized attention.
Faculty
Jeannette Tries Ph.D., OTR, BCB-PMD, received a BS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 1978, a MS in clinical psychology in 1989 and a PhD in Educational Psychology in 2000 from Marquette University. She has worked in the field of incontinence and pelvic floor disorders since 1986 and has published in numerous scientific journals and medical textbooks. She has consulted on national and international policy boards interested in the problems of incontinence and pelvic floor disorders and contributed to the Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research Clinical Practice Guideline on Urinary Incontinence. Dr. Tries has been a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago where she directed therapy services within the Colon-Rectal Surgery Department for over 15 years. She has worked with Eugene Eisman, PhD in developing new measurement methods to assess pelvic floor muscle function in pediatrics and adults. Currently, Dr. Tries directs rehabilitation treatment at The Aurora Women’s Pavilion’s Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders in Milwaukee, WI. She is a senior fellow of the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance and is certified in pelvic muscle dysfunction biofeedback.
Elizabeth Hampton, P.T., WCS., BCB-PMD, will serve as lecturer in the course, covering musculoskeletal contributions to pelvic floor dysfunction, therapeutic modalities, and therapeutic exercise. She will also facilitate the therapeutic exercise and neuromuscular relaxation practicum. Ms. Hampton earned her BS in Physical Therapy from Marquette University in 1987 and a certificate in Women’s Health from Texas Women’s University in 2002. She earned her certification in pilates based rehabilitation from Polestar in 2003 and integrates those concepts into her clinical practice. Ms. Hampton is a published author and faculty member for the Wallace and Herman Institute, teaching courses related to pelvic floor dysfunction. Hampton is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health as well as Board Certified in Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback through the Biofeedback International Alliance. Ms. Hampton is owner of Core Physical Therapy, an outpatient physical therapy clinic specializing in orthopedics as wells as pelvic health and continence for men, women and children. Her philosophy is that pelvic floor rehabilitation is a specialty within a comprehensive neuromuscular, behavioral and musculoskeletal approach to spinal, pelvic, rehabilitation.
Michael A. Schellpfeffer, MD, MS, will provide the anatomy lecture for the course. Dr. Schellpfeffer is a graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin after completing undergraduate studies at Marquette University. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Florida and currently practices OB/GYN in Kenosha, WI. Dr. Schellpfeffer returned to the Medical College of Wisconsin to obtain a Master’s Degree in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy. He continues to teach at the Medical College of Wisconsin as a Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy as well as doing basic research exploring the mechanisms of intrauterine growth restriction using ultrasound imaging in the chick embryo model.
Eugene Eisman, Ph.D., will contribute to the lectures on physiology. Dr. Eisman was a professor in the Department of Psychology, University if Wisconsin-Milwaukee, from 1963 until 1989. He taught courses in physiological psychology and developed a specialized course on the mechanisms underlying the psychosomatic disorders. Currently, he is affiliated with the Clinic for Neurophysiological Learning in Milwaukee and he is on the consulting staff of the Incontinence Control Service, University of Illinois Hospitals and Clinics, Chicago. He has invented pelvic floor muscle EMG recording probes and is developing measurement methods for their use.
Andrew Starsky BSEE, MPT, Ph.D., will provide the sEMG instrumentation lecture for the course. Andy obtained his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Marquette University in 1992. He completed his Masters in Physical Therapy degree in 1998, and PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 2007. Andy is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at Marquette University, teaching courses in Electrotherapy, physical modalities, evidence based practice, and biomechanics. He has been teaching electrotherapy for 11 years and has traveled extensively to lecture on this topic. Andy's energetic approach to teaching and research have garnered him grants from the National Institute of Health, the American Heart Association, and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
Diane Novotny, B.S., will co-direct the anatomy lab component of the course. Ms. Novotny received her bachelors of science from Marquette University in 2004. She is currently a program coordinator ad instructor for the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Ms. Novotny teaches anatomy to professional and undergraduate students and coordinates the anatomy programming for the department.
Brenda Neumann, OTR, BCB-PMD, will serve as course facilitator and assist with the biofeedback practicum. Ms. Neumann received a BS in Occupational Therapy and Biology from Mount Mary College in 1990. Brenda has been instrumental in the development of several programs to treat incontinence and pelvic floor disorders and she currently provides treatment at ProHealth Care, Inc. in Waukesha, WI. Ms. Neumann has been active in professional associations that promote continence and is past president of the Biofeedback Society of Wisconsin. She lectures and publishes material relative to the practice of occupational therapy and urinary incontinence. Ms. Neumann is a fellow of the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance and is certified in pelvic muscle dysfunction biofeedback.
Mary Plummer, OTR, BCB-PMD, will assist with the biofeedback practicum. Ms. Plummer received a BS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1976 and has extensive experience in the specialties of biofeedback, incontinence, and pelvic floor disorders. She has participated in the development of several continence programs and currently practices at The Aurora Women's Pavilion's Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders in Milwaukee, WI. Ms. Plummer has a special interest in pediatric bowel and bladder disorders and has written papers and developed treatment procedures and resource material specific to the pediatric population. She is a senior fellow of the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance and is certified in pelvic muscle dysfunction biofeedback.
