Add-On | Introductory Concepts in Pregnancy and Postpartum On-Demand (OB-Concepts On-Demand)

Course Description

OB Introductory Concepts is an introductory course in obstetric health. In this course, we teach physical therapy professionals lectures on obstetric anatomy, physiology, and physical therapy evaluation and management of the pregnant and postpartum patient.

Topics covered include physiologic adaptations to pregnancy, pelvic floor and musculoskeletal changes, screening and systems review, pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain, exercise during pregnancy, outcome measures, patient education, and evidence-informed clinical management.

This course has been developed as part of the CAPP-OB antepartum and postpartum courses to provide for further obstetric content. This course serves as pre-recorded content for the OB-Antepost and OB-Postpartum courses. It also serves as an introduction to concepts in pregnancy and postpartum for the novice particpant.

Prerequisites

None. However, we recommend participants have some orthopedic and/or musculoskeletal coursework in their curriculum prior to attending the course.

Eligibility

• Licensed Physical Therapist (PT)
• Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)
• 2nd Year Physical Therapy Student (SPT)
• 3rd Year Physical Therapy Student (SPT)
• 2nd Year Physical Therapy Assistant Student (SPTA)
• 3rd Year Physical Therapy Assistant Student (SPTA)
• No other professional types are permitted for this course. No exceptions will be made

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the OB Introductory Concepts (on demand) course, participants will be able to:

Examination / Evaluation

1. Recognize normal physiological, musculoskeletal, and pelvic floor adaptations that occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period and their implications for physical therapy evaluation.
2. Identify key components of the subjective examination, systems review, and screening process for pregnant and postpartum individuals, including psychosocial factors, red flags, and appropriate outcome measures.
3. Differentiate common clinical examination findings associated with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain, hip dysfunction, and diastasis recti to support clinical decision-making.

Diagnosis / Prognosis

1. Differentiate normal pregnancy-related changes from impairments that may warrant physical therapy intervention, interdisciplinary collaboration, or medical referral.
2. Recognize the influence of biomechanical, musculoskeletal, and psychosocial factors on function and movement during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Intervention

1. Apply foundational principles of patient education, body mechanics, and activity modification to support safe movement and functional activities during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
2. Select evidence-informed examination findings to guide basic clinical decision-making and establish appropriate conservative management strategies for common pregnancy-related musculoskeletal conditions.
3. Incorporate patient-centered communication and motivational interviewing principles when developing education and management plans for pregnant and postpartum individuals.

Advancement

• This course is required if you are pursuing the Certificate of Advanced Practice in Physical Therapy in Obstetric Health (CAPP-OB)
• It serves as prerecorded content for the OB-Antepartum and OB-Postpartum courses.
• It also serves as an introduction to concepts for pregnancy and postpartum for the novice participant

Equipment Needed

• PC/Laptop (some participants prefer to use two monitors to watch the webinar on one monitor while following along with the digital course manual or slides on a second monitor)
• Stable Wi-Fi connection or wired internet connection

Included in Purchase

• 3.9 contact hours of on-demand lectures
• Electronic course materials (12-month access)
• Multiple-choice question exam and survey (30 days to complete after the course)
• Certificate of Completion (issued upon 80% or higher score on exam)
• Downloadable and shareable Digital Badge 🏅