Look beyond the traditional regional approach of pelvic floor PT and understand how addressing dysfunctions of the thoracic/cervical spine and TMJ region can positively affect lumbo/pelvic dysfunction. This 2-day course is designed to expand your current practice through evidence based and biological plausible methods of examination and intervention of upper quarter dysfunctions to the lower quarter region. Learn how the effects of intra-abdominal pressure with trunk/cervical/TMJ dysfunction results in decreased performance and fatigue of the pelvic floor musculature. The concepts of how upper quarter regional dysfunction influence musculoskeletal dysfunction will include the effects on diastasis rectus abdominus, episiotomy, prolapse, incontinence, GI dysfunction, and lumbo/abdomino/pelvic pain. A complete review of the anatomy and physiology of the system from the glottis to the pelvic floor will be provided with links of clinical reasoning for expanding intervention of manual therapy, movement and exercise. The course will include an interactive format for discussion of the current concepts and the application of interventions. There will be a strong emphasis on lab with movement experiences and clinical reasoning.

At the end of the presentation, the learner will be able to:

1) Define normal abdominal and thoracic pressures and how these pressures are increased with normal postures, positions and activities.

2) Review the anatomy and physiology of the glottis to the pelvic floor – including the anatomical changes with prolonged postures.

3) Understand the physiology behind the literature on the effects of the prolonged seated posture.

4) Discuss the relevance of the literature on fatigability of the pelvic floor muscles and training

5) Outline various changes in intervention techniques to reduce the effects of increased abdominal pressures and epiglottis considerations with pelvic floor, transverses abdominus, multifidus and diaphragm training from low level to high level activity.