This is a question I get asked often, and I LOVE helping people get started treating these patient populations! There are so many people who suffer endlessly, or people who if treated early could ward off endless suffering! There are not enough pelvic floor trained PTs out there! I think if you have the slightest interest, you should pursue it. The work is incredibly rewarding and can definitely help you stand out from the crowd of therapists.
The most common continuing education courses come from two institutions, and then there are a handful behind those that offer courses on very specific topics within pelvic health. I’ve linked all the websites here in one convenient place.
The two main ones are: APTA Pelvic Health and Herman and Wallace.
The others are Alcove, Pelvic Guru, Institute for Birth Healing, Entropy PT & Wellness and likely several others.
Most of the above also have online resources or webinars but some other places that offer specifically online coursework are Medbridge and Evidence in Motion (EIM).
There’s also the possibility of applying for a residency program. You can check out the description of a women's health residency here and another blog post about deciding if it right for you here. I did not do a residency. I was fortunate to have my final clinical rotation before graduation from my DPT program to be with a pelvic health specialist. I took Pelvic Level 1 through Herman and Wallace before this internship started as preparation. It was an incredible 12 weeks, and I was able to start treating these patients from the get go after graduation in my own clinical practice.
In my clinic now, I see 100% pelvic health patients. What people don’t realize is that a lot of first level pelvic floor work is really orthopedics, but with the knowledge of how to assess the pelvic floor. This assessment can occur internally or externally. Again, just to dip your toe in the water, there’s so much, and so many people you could help in your practice without diving deep into pelvic floor knowledge. But once you get your toes wet, I think you’ll want to learn more!
I hope this was helpful! If you need some more guidance, I’d be happy to chat with you specifically about your goals and what vision you have for your practice. Hit contact me below and tell me why you want to make a change in your practice and knowledge!
Wouldn't it be great to make money while you're not at work? I love helping PTs add an income stream to their already existing practices. Hit contact me now and let's chat about it!
Ok friends! Have the best week ever!
