Pregnancy-Related Diastasis Rectus Abdominis: Bridging the Gap
Pregnancy-Related Diastasis Rectus Abdominis: Bridging the Gap
This course includes
Overview
This online physiotherapy course explores pregnancy-related DRA, drawing on recent controlled studies and practice-based research to help participants develop a cohesive, evidenced-informed approach to pregnancy-related DRA.
The current scientific literature base on the topic of pregnancy-related DRA is evolving, but gaps and discordance still exist. The lack of coherence in this literature base has many implications for the best conservative management of pregnancy-related DRA. It will be proposed during this course that a broader primary health care perspective is important to ensure the provision of evidence-based conservative care for pregnancy-related DRA at the first point of care in the health care system.
3 REASONS TO SIGN UP
- Reason One: Learn current up to date perspectives regarding pregnancy-related DRA
- Reason Two: Enhance your confidence working with women in the perinatal care period.
- Reason Three: Gain some related clinical pearls regarding caring for women pre and postnatally.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the epidemiology of diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) throughout the different phases of pregnancy and the relationship between linea alba (LA) and other structures forming the abdominal manometric system such as the pelvic floor muscles (PFM).
- Identify scientific update on evidence (both evidence-based and practice-based inquiry) pertaining to the management of pregnancy-related DRA, including points of congruence and incongruence and review considerations related to appraising different forms of scientific evidence and literature.
- Provide current evidence-informed and integrative conservative care principles for pregnancy-related DRA from a primary health care perspective, with an emphasis on the roles of physiotherapists.

The instructors
PT, PhD
Dr. Sinéad Dufour is an Academic Clinician who shares her time between clinical and academic pursuits. Academically, Sinéad is an Associate Professor at McMaster University and serves as content expert in perinatal care, pelvic health and pain science with FIFA Medical. Her current research interests include conservative approaches to optimize pelvic floor function (including innovative technologies), pregnancy-related pelvic-girdle pain, interprofessional collaborative practice models of service provision to enhance pelvic health and perinatal fitness for elite athletes.
Clinically, Sinéad serves as the Chief Clinical Officer of Compass Rose Pelvic Health, an international virtual physiotherapy company she co-founded, with a mandate to guide clients on their journey to pelvic health creation through a bio-psycho-social-spiritual lens. Sinéad is also a founding partner of The WOMB (World of my Baby) a company with six locations providing Ontarians with optimized perinatal (and beyond!) care. Sinéad is a fierce advocate who has and continues to dedicate her time to organizations that aim to improve perinatal care, pain care and pelvic health services including: The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, The Canaidan Society of Pelvic Medicine, Lansinoh International, and Urospot (Canada & UK).
A clinician, researcher and educator, Sinéad brings experience, credibility and passion into all of her teaching and is a well-recognized speaker at conferences around the world.
Relevant Links:
IG: @dr.sinead
IG: @compassrosepelvichealth
https://healthcare.lansinoh.com/pages/clinical-advisory-network
Material included in this course
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Webinar Recording of Pregnancy-Related Diastasis Rectus Abdominis: Bridging the Gap
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Introduction
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Linea Alba and the Canister Theory
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Efficacy Studies
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Bridging the Gap Between Evidence-Based and Practice-Based Literature
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How Can We Best Help?
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New Research and Closing Remarks
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Audience Questions
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Quiz
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Never Stop Learning (Suggestions)
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Feedback