Learning aims and references

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Learning aims

Aerobic exercises for pregnancy

At the completion of this course participants should:

  • Have the knowledge to effectively prescribe aerobic exercises for pregnancy

  • Recognise patient conditions and characteristics that respond to these exercises

  • Have the knowledge to observe and correct any technique errors

  • Understand the evidence regarding these exercises

  • Develop communication skills to convey appropriate information to the patient

  • Recall what to prescribe the exercises for and the purpose and contraindications of each exercise

  • Recall the recommendations for safe aerobic exercise during pregnancy

  • Recognise the potential foetal risks of intense aerobic exercise for highly active and elite athletes

  • List the factors that improve patient compliance during pregnancy

  • Recall the specific benefits of side stepping

  • List recommendations for safe running during pregnancy

  • List perceived barriers to exercise and provide solutions for each

  • Recall the detrimental effects of bed rest

  • Understand how to use the Borg rating of perceived exertion scale and the multidimensional assessment fatigue scale

Pregnancy exercises for pelvic girdle/ lower back pain

At the completion of this course participants should:

  • Have the knowledge to effectively prescribe exercises for pregnancy pelvic girdle/lower back pain

  • Recognise patient conditions and characteristics that respond to these exercises

  • Have the knowledge to observe and correct any technique errors

  • Understand the evidence regarding these exercises

  • Develop communication skills to convey appropriate information to the patient

  • Recall the correct technique and teaching cues

  • Understand how to use pre and post testing to determine the effectiveness of the intervention

  • List other advice and interventions that could be beneficial for pelvic girdle and lower back pain during pregnancy

  • Understand the level to which exercise can be helpful during pregnancy

  • Recognise the features of a successful exercise program

  • The benefits of high-impact exercise prior to pregnancy

  • Recall the types of exercise programs that have been beneficial for lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy

  • Understand the potential mechanisms for prevention of lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy using exercise interventions

  • Recall the methods of increasing walking compliance

  • Understand the potential mechanisms for walking relieving back pain

  • Recognise the many other benefits of walking during pregnancy

  • Understand how to address fear, preexisting problems and working around pain with exercise

  • Recognise the features of optimal breathing

  • Understand that the reason for shortness of breath during pregnancy are not purely mechanical

  • Recognise who should be responsible for appropriate pelvic floor training and which types of patients should be referred

  • Understand the specific reasons to prescribe pelvic floor exercises in pregnant women

  • Recognise the limitations in research related to exercises for transversus abdominis

  • Recall what the symptoms of sciatica indicate during pregnancy

  • Recognise the factors that have a poor relationship with lumbopelvic pain and those that have a strong relationship

  • Recall recommendations for changing activities of daily living postpartum to assist with lumbopelvic pain

  • Recall the muscles pelvic tilts activate

  • Understand the theory behind retraining multifidus

  • Understand why it is useful to incorporate upper body training in cases of lumbopelvic pain

  • Recognise the benefits of stretching for myofascial pain

  • Recognise that psychological factors are an important consideration for those with lower back pain

Swiss ball exercises for pregnancy

At the completion of this course participants should:

  • Have the knowledge to effectively prescribe Swiss ball exercises for pregnancy

  • Recognise patient conditions and characteristics that respond to these exercises

  • Have the knowledge to observe and correct any technique errors

  • Understand the evidence regarding these exercises

  • Develop communication skills to convey appropriate information to the patient

  • Recall the correct technique and teaching cues

  • Have the knowledge to provide the appropriate number of repetitions of exercises for optimal results

  • Recall the reasons why pregnant women have an increased risk of falling during pregnancy

  • Recognise the benefits of overhead exercises

  • Understand the neurological effects of lower limb restriction

  • Recall the potential benefits of pandiculation

  • Recall exercises required to address changes in the ankle control strategy and hip joint strength

Upper and lower body strength exercises for pregnancy

At the completion of this course participants should:

  • Have the knowledge to effectively prescribe upper and lower body strength exercises for pregnancy

  • Be able to list the potential benefits of upper and lower body strength exercises for pregnancy

  • Recognise the purpose of each exercise specific to pregnancy

  • Be aware of safety precautions at specific stages of pregnancy

  • Have the knowledge to observe and correct any technique errors

  • Understand the evidence regarding these exercises

  • Develop communication skills to convey appropriate information to the patient

  • Understand the evolutionary cost of bipedalism for women

  • Be aware that women lose upper body strength during pregnancy

  • Recognise the benefits of upper body exercises for neck pain during pregnancy

  • Recognise the caution around single leg exercises

  • Recall which exercises are detrimental for the pelvic floor

  • Be aware of the impacts of pregnancy on lower limb strength

  • Recall the changes during pregnancy on foot structure

  • Recall the changes during pregnancy that increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis

  • Understand the benefits of calf contraction and walking for deep vein thrombosis

  • Understand the relationship between pregnancy and bone mineral density

  • Recall the risk factors for loss of bone mineral density

  • Recall the period of time it takes to recover from loss of bone density

  • Recall the level of exercise required to return bone mineral density level to pre-pregnancy levels

  • Recall the muscles that are associated with severe postpartum pelvic girdle pain

  • Recall the most effective exercise for activation of adductor longus

Abdominal exercises for pregnancy and rectus diastasis abdominis

At the completion of this course participants should:

  • Have the knowledge to effectively prescribe abdominal exercises for pregnancy and beyond

  • Recognise patient conditions and characteristics that respond to these exercises

  • Have the knowledge to observe and correct any technique errors

  • Understand the evidence regarding these exercises

  • Develop communication skills to convey appropriate information to the patient

  • Recall the correct technique and teaching cues for performing abdominal exercises during pregnancy

  • Recall additional recommendations when prescribing exercise for rectus diastasis abdominis

  • Understand why some common recommendations may not necessarily be beneficial

  • Understand the importance of optimal breathing

  • Be aware of the reasons for shortness of breath and when to refer

  • Understand why expanding the ribcage while breathing might help rectus diastasis abdominis

  • Understand why isolated transversus abdominis may or may not be an appropriate intervention for low back and pelvic girdle pain

  • Understand the balance between spinal stiffness and agility

  • Recall the potentially detrimental effects of abdominal hollowing throughout the day

  • Recognise that pelvic tilts during pregnancy are a poorly researched exercise

  • Understand why the rectus abdominis changes in function during pregnancy

  • Recall the factors that affect rectus abdominis separation throughout life

  • Understand how to assess for detrimental rectus diastasis abdominis

  • Understand the potential benefits of curl with transversus abdominis cueing for rectus diastasis abdominis

  • Recall the potential benefits of including half plank in an exercise program

Pelvic floor exercises for pregnancy

At the completion of this course participants should:

  • Have the knowledge to effectively prescribe pelvic floor exercises for pregnancy and beyond

  • Recognise patient conditions and characteristics that respond to these exercises

  • Have the knowledge to observe and correct any technique errors

  • Understand the evidence regarding these exercises

  • Develop communication skills to convey appropriate information to the patient

  • Recall the correct technique and teaching cues for performing abdominal exercises during pregnancy

  • Recall the reasons why you should refer to a practitioner who specialises in assessment and training of the pelvic floor

  • Understand how a patient can use a bladder diary to monitor symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction

  • Recall the steps to be taken before referring for specialist advice for pelvic floor exercises

  • Become confident in recommending and encouraging patients to perform pelvic floor exercises

  • Recognise the differences between stress urinary incontinence, urge urinary incontinence and overactive bladder

  • Understand the difference between strength and endurance exercises for the pelvic floor

  • Understand the ramification of the evolution of bipedal stance and the pelvic floor

  • Recognise the challenge of overcoming damage to the pelvic floor muscles during birth

  • Understand non-relaxing pelvic floor

  • List the reasons why pelvic floor muscle training are beneficial