Enhancing Pelvic Health Outcomes with Light and Vibration Therapy (NON CEU course)

Description

Light therapy (including red, near infrared, and blue light) has been studied for a range of uses related to female pelvic health. A wide range of benefits have been observed for common menopausal, perimenopausal and postpartum conditions including incontinence, prolapse, tissue dryness, tissue atrophy, pelvic pain, and episiotomy recovery. There is also a growing list of pelvic health conditions spanning a women’s lifetime that show clinical and scientific support for the use of light therapy, including endometriosis, PCOS, PMS, dyspareunia, interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome and microbial conditions such as candida and bacterial vaginosis.

Despite its recent popularity, light therapy has close to a 100 year history of scientific research and development in healthcare. While early research on light therapy used primarily lasers, more recent research has found that LED’s can also be used, improving the accessibility and safety of light therapy for the pelvic health patient. The use of LEDs in red/near infrared/blue light therapy devices has also greatly reduced the cost of treatment, making it a valuable tool in a home care program. Both laser and LED lights have been used in research and practice to support pelvic health.

This course will review mechanisms for light therapy for its most evidence-based uses in pelvic health, including reducing pain and inflammation, improving circulation, tissue regeneration, muscle tone regulation, and effects on the vaginal microbiome/microorganisms. The use of Red Light Therapy, Near Infrared Light Therapy, Blue Light Therapy, and Vibration Therapy will be discussed along with their mechanisms of action that trigger a physiological healing response in our body. Contraindications and precautions of Light Therapy will be reviewed.

Students will leave this course with a clear understanding of how to use Light and Vibration Therapy in the clinic and how to prescribe Light and Vibration Therapy for patients as a component of a pelvic health home therapy program.

This course is intended for pelvic health professionals with no prerequisite knowledge of Light and Vibration Therapy.

Learning Objectives

The Science and Clinical Applications of Red, Near infrared, Blue Light and Vibration Therapy in Pelvic Health

At the conclusion of the course, attendees will be able to:

1. Define and discuss the physiological effects of Light and Vibration Therapy on a cellular and tissue level, particularly for pelvic health.
2. Review female pelvis common dysfunctions and conditions supported by Light and Vibration Therapy.
3. Understand Light Therapy mechanisms and effects for tissue regeneration, pain and inflammation, increased blood flow, and microorganism balance.
4. Understand Vibration Therapy techniques for tissue regeneration, pain and inflammation, increased blood flow, and muscle tone regulation
5. Evaluate the clinical evidence for Light and Vibration Therapy for female pelvic health and justify treatment approaches and parameters based on recent scientific review.
6. Understand the integration of the treatment principles of Light and Vibration Therapy into a pelvic health practice for Vaginal Dryness , Vaginal Atrophy, Incontinence, Prolapse, Dyspareunia, Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome, Pelvic Pain, Endometriosis, PCOS, PMS/Menstrual Cramps, Microbial Conditions - Candida, Bacterial Vaginosis, HPV, Chlamydia

Course Procedure

HOURLY BREAKDOWN

Hour One

Ch 1: Introduction - Women’s Health State of the Union

Ch 2: Light & the Human Body

History review and recorded uses of Light Therapy in healthcare

Electromagnetic spectrum & wavelengths of light

Light pathways - visual and skin

Chromophores & photoreceptors

How light is absorbed into the body

Ch 3: Red, Near Infrared and Blue Light Therapy Basics

Photobiomodulation defined

LED vs. Laser technology

Defining and understanding:

Irradiance/Intensity mw/Cm2

Treatment time, area, frequency, interval

Hour Two

Ch 4: Light Therapy - Mechanisms and Effects

The Mighty Mitochondria

Main physiological effects of red and near infrared light

Theories of Red Light Therapy - CcO Theory, EZ Water Theory

Physiological effects of blue light

Ch 5: Vibration Therapy - Mechanisms and Effects

Main physiological effects of Vibration Therapy

Ch 6: Female Pelvis - Review Anatomy & Function

The external anatomy of the pelvis

The internal anatomy of the pelvis and pelvic floor

The importance of the pelvic floor

Hour Three

Ch 7: Female Pelvis - Common Dysfunctions, Conditions and Treatments

Hypertonicity vs hypotonicity of the pelvic floor

Specific MSK conditions: incontinence, prolapse, dyspareunia, interstitial cystitis / bladder pain syndrome, bowel dysfunctions

Specific microbiome conditions: Candida infections, bacterial vaginosis, HPV & chlamydia

Existing treatments for pelvic health conditions

Ch 8: How Does Light Therapy Support Female Pelvic Health?

Tissue rejuvenation

Reduced inflammation and pain

Increased blood flow

Effects on microorganisms

Ch 9: Light Therapy Clinical Research

Vaginal microbiome and pathogenic infections

Pelvic pain

Urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction

Interstitial cystitis and bladder pain syndrome

Menopause

Episiotomy recovery

Ch 10: How Does Vibration Therapy Support Female Pelvic Health?

Tissue rejuvenation

Increased blood flow

Muscle tone regulation

Decreased pain

Hour Four

Ch 11: Vibration Therapy Clinical Research

Urinary incontinence

Pelvic floor dysfunction

Pelvic pain

Sexual dysfunction

Ch 12: Light Therapy Treatment Basics

Parameters for light treatment - wavelength, power, irradiance/intensity, dosage, frequency, treatment time

Ch 13: Light Therapy Precautions/Safety

Contraindications to Light Therapy

Equipment considerations

Hour Five

Ch 14: Light and vibration therapy - pelvic health practice integration

Vaginal dryness - mechanisms, light and vibration dosing recommendations, use guidelines and integrated therapies

Vaginal atrophy- mechanisms, light and vibration dosing recommendations, use guidelines and integrated therapies

Incontinence - mechanisms, light and vibration dosing recommendations, use guidelines and integrated therapies

Prolapse - mechanisms, light and vibration dosing recommendations, use guidelines and integrated therapies

Dyspareunia - mechanisms, light and vibration dosing recommendations, use guidelines and integrated therapies

Interstitial cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome - mechanisms, light and vibration dosing recommendations, use guidelines and integrated therapies

Pelvic pain - mechanisms, light and vibration dosing recommendations, use guidelines and integrated therapies

Endometriosis - mechanisms, light and vibration dosing recommendations, use guidelines and integrated therapies

PCOS - mechanisms, light and vibration dosing recommendations, use guidelines and integrated therapies

PMS, Menstrual Cramps - mechanisms, light and vibration dosing recommendations, use guidelines and integrated therapies

Microbial conditions (candida, Bacterial Vaginosis, HPV, chlamydia) - mechanisms, light and vibration dosing recommendations, use guidelines and integrated therapies

Ch 15: Evidence Notes

Course Content