Enhancing Pelvic Health Outcomes with Light and Vibration Therapy (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.
Available Course Credits
| Alaska State PT & OT Board | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
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Colorado Physical Therapy License Board | 5.00 | |
| Delaware Examining Board of Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Idaho Physical Therapy Licensure Board | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Indiana Physical Therapy Board | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Iowa Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy | 5.00 | ||
| Maine Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 | ||
| Massachusetts Board of Allied Health Professionals | 5.00 | ||
| Michigan Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Missouri Advisory Commission for Physical Therapists | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Montana Board of Physical Therapy Examiners | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| New Mexico Physical Therapy Board | 5.00 | ||
| North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Office of Professional Regulation, Vermont Secretary of State | 5.00 | Expiring on April 5, 2027 | |
| Oregon Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 | ||
| Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs - Physical Therapy | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Physical Therapy Governing Board New Hampshire | 5.00 | ||
| South Carolina Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| South Dakota Physical Therapy License Board | 5.00 | ||
| State of Rhode Island Department of Health | 5.00 | Expiring on April 5, 2027 | |
| Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 | Expiring on April 5, 2027 | |
| Utah Physical Therapy Licensing Board | 5.00 | ||
| Virginia Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Washington State Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 | ||
| Wisconsin Physical Therapy License Board | 5.00 | Expiring on May 25, 2027 | |
| Wyoming Board of Physical Therapy | 5.00 |
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:
- Define and discuss the physiological effects of Light and Vibration Therapy on a cellular and tissue level, particularly for pelvic health.
- Review female pelvis common dysfunctions and conditions supported by Light and Vibration Therapy.
- Understand Light Therapy mechanisms and effects for tissue regeneration, pain and inflammation, increased blood flow, and microorganism balance.
- Understand Vibration Therapy techniques for tissue regeneration, pain and inflammation, increased blood flow, and muscle tone regulation
- Evaluate the clinical evidence for Light and Vibration Therapy for female pelvic health and justify treatment approaches and parameters based on recent scientific review.
- 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,
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
| Module 1-3 | Module | ||
| Module 2 | Module | ||
| Module 4 | Module | ||
| Multiple Choice Quiz | Module | ||
| Light Heals Course Evaluation | Module |