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Course Description

Dancers and other artistic athletes, including circus artists, gymnasts, and figure skaters, have unique demands that include repetitive loading in extreme ranges of motion, intense training and performing schedules, and a requirement for artistic/emotional expression and exploration. They also experience pelvic floor issues such as incontinence at similar rates to other high-level athletes, regardless of pregnancy history.

The purpose of this course is to help pelvic health practitioners address dancers and related artistic athletes and their pelvic health concerns in a comprehensive manner specific to their unique training, movement, and performance demands.

This course will introduce common movement demands, including repetitive impact loading and range of motion requirements, along with typical non-optimal training and movement habits of performers that impact pelvic floor function—as well as how to address them. You will also be introduced to common overall health issues in dancers and other artistic athletes, including hypermobility, nutrient deficiencies/RED-S, inadequate general preparation for sport demands, and psychosocial factors that impact their pelvic health and wellness. You will leave with example exercises and cues that can be implemented to address the specific needs of dancers and related artistic athletes.

This comprehensive course will help you in optimally addressing dancers and related artistic athletes according to their unique needs, using an approach that considers the whole kinetic chain as well as holistic and multidisciplinary considerations. This course is appropriate for pelvic health practitioners who want to expand their skillset in treating dancers and other performing athletes.

Course Objectives:

• Participants will understand the training philosophies and trends for dancers and related artistic athletes that are unique compared to other sports, and how these can impact pelvic health.
• Participants will understand the range of motion and impact demands of dancers and related artistic athletes, and how to approach these demands in relation to their impact on the pelvic floor.
• Participants will be able to assess common breathing, pelvic floor, and intra-abdominal pressure management habits unique to performing arts training, and will be equipped to re-educate artistic athletes in more effective and efficient strategies.
• Participants will be able to identify signs and concerns related to hypermobility in artistic athletes and develop strategies for their management.
• Participants will be able to screen for common health issues in artistic athletes, such as RED-S and psychosocial concerns, that impact pelvic floor health, and know what to do when these concerns are present.
• Participants will learn example exercises and cues from across the kinetic chain to improve overall movement strategies in artistic athletes and offload the pelvic floor.

Audience: This course is appropriate for pelvic health practitioners who want to expand their skill set in treating dancers and other performing athletes.

Prerequisites: A basic understanding of management of pelvic floor dysfunction is recommended.

Date/Time: December 4, 2024, from 5:00pm-9:00pm ET (Toronto). Please convert to your local time zone.