This is the most comprehensive series of pelvic girdle and sacroiliac dysfunction courses you will find anywhere on the internet.
Sacroiliac dysfunction affects an estimated 10-30% of persons with non-specific low back pain and is often present with complaints of hip and leg pain on the same side. It often goes undiagnosed and may actually be one of the sources of low back pain.
Pelvic girdle and sacroiliac pain affects 56-72% of women during pregnancy and post-partum and 7% continue to have pain and dysfunction for the rest of their lives. Physiotherapists are best suited to help these patients.
In this new programme of courses Deborah Riczo will take you through the Pelvic Girdle Musculoskeletalsm (PGM) Method and will give you the tools to simply, effectively and accurately manage your patients with pelvic girdle dysfunction (PGD).
The Tutor
Dr Deborah Riczo is a specialist in pelvic girdle /sacroiliac dysfunction, pregnancy/postpartum issues, women’s health, and breast cancer.
Deborah Riczo is a renowned speaker and author on pelvic girdle/ sacroiliac pain and dysfunction. She is a licensed Physical Therapist in the State of Ohio and has BS Physical Therapy and Med Sports Management degrees from Cleveland State University and a DPT from Marymount University.
Deborah is a leading expert in the evaluation and treatment of sacroiliac/pelvic girdle pain and dysfunction. She is also a specialist in pregnancy/postpartum issues, women’s health, and breast cancer. Deborah is the author of two books on these topics. In 2011, Deborah founded Riczo Health Education and developed continuing education courses for therapists in her specialist areas. She also teaches sacroiliac/pelvic girdle dysfunction at the doctoral level, through webinars, and at state and national conferences.
The Programme
Sacroiliac dysfunction affects ~10-30% of persons with non-specific low back pain and is often present with complaints of unilateral hip and leg pain. It often goes undiagnosed and is often a source of low back pain. Pelvic girdle and sacroiliac pain affects 56-72% of women during pregnancy and post-partum and 7% continue to have pain and dysfunction for the rest of their lives. Physiotherapists are best suited to help these patients. Deborah Riczo developed the Pelvic Girdle Musculoskeletal (PGM) Method and during the 12 courses in this programme, she will give you the tools to simply, effectively and accurately manage your patients with pelvic girdle dysfunction (PGD).
The Courses
Foundational Knowledge
Pelvic girdle pain refers to musculoskeletal disorders affecting the pelvis. It primarily involves the sacroiliac joint, the symphysis pubis and the associated ligaments and muscles. Pelvic girdle pain is a global problem, but physiotherapists are in a unique position to offer guidance and provide valuable help to patients. In this course, the first in a series of courses on pelvic girdle pain, Deborah Riczo, discusses the definition, causes, prevalence, risk factors, differential diagnosis, prognosis and subjective clinical findings of pelvic girdle pain.
Pelvic girdle dysfunction can be a disabling condition and may influence the daily function and quality of life of people affected. Physiotherapists often diagnose and manage musculoskeletal disorders affecting the pelvis and excellent knowledge of the anatomy of the pelvic girdle is essential for good patient and treatment outcomes. This course by Deborah Riczo reviews the anatomy of the pelvic girdle with a focus on the bones, joints, ligaments and muscles of the pelvis and surrounding areas.
The pelvic girdle forms the connection and is also responsible for the transfer of load between the lumbar spine and the lower extremities. The SIJ is the largest axial joint in the body and an integral part of the pelvic girdle. In this course, the biomechanics and neuromuscular dynamics of the pelvic girdle will be considered. It is of utmost importance for physiotherapists to have a thorough understanding of this area in order to effectively address pelvic girdle dysfunction in their patients.
Various models of disorders and mechanical dysfunctions have been proposed. Because of this diversity tany treatments are offered little evidence to support them. Even among experts in the area of pelvic girdle dysfunction and sacroiliac pain, there seems to be a lack of consensus with regards to diagnosing and managing these dysfunctions. In this fourth course Deborah provides us with an in-depth review of the available evidence on the diagnosis, interventions and outcome measures of pelvic girdle dysfunction.
The Pelvic Girdle Musculoskeletal Method
The management of pelvic girdle dysfunction is complex and there are many different approaches used in practice. In this course, Deborah introduces the Pelvic Girdle Musculoskeletal Method, or PGM Methodsm which Deborah developed and has been teaching to physical therapists since 201. This method empowers physiotherapists to confidently assess pelvic girdle dysfunction and implement targeted treatment plans that are designed to improve the day-to-day functioning and quality of life of their clients.
In this sixth course on the Pelvic Girdle Musculoskeletal Methodsm, or PGM Methodsm, Deborah Riczo introduces an algorithm of exercises, the PGM Method Pelvic Balancing exercises that are designed to provide pain relief and improved function. These exercises can easily be applied in a clinical or virtual setting and be prescribed as home exercises for patients.
An important part of the PGM Methodsm is activating the deep core muscles and addressing muscles that are weak and tight. In this course, Deborah teaches how to activate the deep core muscles, presents an algorithm to guide the progression of core strengthening, and identifies specific muscles that tend to need targeted stretching and strengthening in patients with pelvic girdle dysfunction.
High-quality patient education is an integral component of effective patient care in all healthcare settings to improve clinical outcomes such as pain, disability and function. In this course, Deborah Riczo discusses the PGMsm Method interventions of patient education and sacroiliac belt use that are beneficial to patients with pelvic girdle dysfunction. It is recommended that these strategies be considered and included as appropriate for the individual, in the management of a patient with pelvic girdle dysfunction.
In this course, Deborah Riczo will discuss diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) and pelvic floor dysfunction. The signs, symptoms, assessment and treatment options for these two conditions will be covered. It is pertinent for any physiotherapist involved in the management of patients with pelvic girdle dysfunction to have a good understanding of these two conditions.
Core muscles are involved in maintaining spinal and pelvic stability. Physiotherapists regularly prescribe core strengthening exercises to patients with a variety of dysfunctions and injuries. In this tenth course of the Pelvic Girdle Musculoskeletal Methodsm, Deborah Riczo discusses core strengthening and teaches practical methods to progress systematically through various levels of core strengthening.
During pregnancy, the female body undergoes a variety of anatomical and physiological changes. Women often struggle with pain and discomfort during pregnancy and in the postpartum period due to these changes. The aim of this course is to provide an overview of some of the hormonal, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal changes that occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as to provide guidance on the appropriate intervention strategies of common conditions during this stage.
Pulling together all the pieces in managing patients with pelvic girdle pain using the PGM Method. In this final course in the Pelvic Girdle Dysfunction Programme, Deborah Riczo discusses 4 patients with different pain presentations. She applies the Pelvic Girdle Musculoskeletal (PGM) Methodsm in the assessment and successful management of these patients. It is highly recommended to finish all the previous courses in this programme before doing this course.