Participants who register for this course have the option to attend the course live-online and/or watch the recording later. The recording will be available to all registrants for a 1-month period and access is provided on the next business day following the course. This allows participants who may not be able to attend live-online to still benefit from the course content. To facilitate attendance tracking, please indicate on your registration form if you won't be attending live.

Course Description:

Ultrasound imaging allows for valid, reliable, efficient and non-invasive measurement  of motor control deficits of the deep stabilizing muscles that are associated with neuromusculoskeletal disorders in the Lumbopelvic region. The ability to qualitatively assess motor control as well as visually train muscle function has been shown to lead to improved clinical decision-making and patient performance.

Participants in this one-day remote course will be instructed in the basic science and clinical evidence for the use of rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) for addressing lumbopelvic dysfunction.  We will explore the relevant anatomy, landmarks, and ultrasound probe technique required for evaluation of tissue morphology, motor control behaviors, as well as motor pattern training for the anterior and lateral abdominal wall, pelvic floor, and lumbar multifidus.  The pelvic floor, bladder and midline contents of the pelvis will be addressed in two ways including transabdominal and transperineal approach for male and female patients.   This course offers live lectures followed by live-model demonstrations providing interaction, questions, and real-time observation of RUSI.  Participants must have a solid grasp of pelvic floor function and rehabilitation of the muscles of local control, prior ultrasound experience or equipment is not required.

Goals and Objectives

1. Understand current clinical applications of rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) in the scope of physical therapy
2. Understand basic imaging principles and terminology
3. Understand how RUSI can be utilized for evaluation of aberrant motor control strategies
4. Understand the basic science and equipment required to perform rehabilitative ultrasound imaging
5. Be able to Identify relevant sonographic landmarks for the abdominal wall, pelvic floor, bladder and lumbar multifidus on an ultrasound image
6. Understand how RUSI can contribute to clinical decision making to improve the management of patients with a variety of lumbopelvic dysfunctions

Audience: This course is open to registered health professionals for whom the use of ultrasound techniques are within the scope of practice.

Prerequisite: Good working knowledge of the muscles of local control. Access to ultrasound equipment OR experience with ultrasound is not required.