{"product_id":"level-3-biopsychosocial-reframed-for-pelvic-health-and-msk-therapists-live-online","title":"Level 3: Biopsychosocial Reframed for Pelvic Health and MSK Therapists: Live-Online","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis course is designed to be attended live during the specific dates and times listed. By attending live, you’ll be able to harness the benefits of live discussions, timely feedback, and a collaborative environment.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCourse Description: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePersistent pelvic and musculoskeletal pain cannot be fully understood—or effectively treated—through a biomechanical lens alone. Although physiotherapists receive extensive training in anatomy, structure and movement, many clinicians find it challenging to translate the biopsychosocial model from theory into everyday practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis comprehensive course provides a practical, evidence-informed framework for assessing and treating the whole person. Participants will examine how biological, psychological and social factors interact to influence pain, disability and recovery. The course challenges common assumptions about pain, posture, core strength, imaging findings and tissue damage, while exploring how clinician language and treatment choices can either support recovery or unintentionally reinforce fear, dependency and a sense that the body is broken.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Fit-for-Purpose Model offers clinicians a structured approach to persistent pain through three interconnected domains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConviction:\u003c\/strong\u003e beliefs, expectations, emotions and psychological flexibility\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConnection: \u003c\/strong\u003esensory-motor awareness, regulation and nervous-system adaptability\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003ephysical capacity, mobility, strength and tissue health\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticipants will learn to assess these domains using clinical conversations, validated screening tools and physical examination findings. Treatment can then be matched to each patient’s presentation, preferences and readiness for change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe course explores evidence-informed strategies including pain education, cognitive and behavioural skills, sensory-motor retraining, graded exposure, cardiovascular exercise, meditation, breathing practices, yoga, qi gong, expressive writing and progressive relaxation. Manual therapy and other passive interventions are reframed as potential adjuncts within a broader active rehabilitation plan—not as stand-alone solutions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEmphasis is placed on patient-centred communication and a collaborative partnership that moves clinicians away from the role of “fixer.” Participants will develop greater confidence in discussing psychosocial contributors without dismissing the patient’s physical experience, recognizing factors that fall within physiotherapy scope, and determining when interdisciplinary referral is appropriate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClinical barriers—including limited appointment time, patient and clinician beliefs, uncertainty, and conflicting approaches within healthcare teams—will be addressed throughout the course. Participants will leave with practical strategies for making realistic, incremental changes that bring biopsychosocial care into everyday pelvic and musculoskeletal practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCourse Objectives\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUpon completion of this course, participants will be able to:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"1\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExplain\u003c\/strong\u003e why a biopsychosocial approach is necessary for the assessment and treatment of persistent pelvic and musculoskeletal pain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecognize and challenge \u003c\/strong\u003ecommon pain myths related to tissue damage, posture, core strength, structural “wear and tear,” and imaging findings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDescribe\u003c\/strong\u003e the relationship between pain, sensitization, psychosocial distress, sensory-motor dysregulation, physical conditioning and disability.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eApply the Fit-for-Purpose Model\u003c\/strong\u003e to assess the interconnected domains of Conviction, Connection and Condition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScreen for relevant psychosocial and sensory-motor factors\u003c\/strong\u003e in all patients with persistent pelvic or musculoskeletal pain—not only those perceived as complex.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSelect and use validated questionnaires\u003c\/strong\u003e, including the DASS-21, 3PSQ, Central Sensitization Inventory, Insomnia Severity Index and Fremantle questionnaires, to support clinical reasoning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterpret screening results within the broader clinical presentation\u003c\/strong\u003e without using questionnaires as stand-alone diagnostic tools.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIdentify factors within physiotherapy scope\u003c\/strong\u003e and recognize when referral to another healthcare professional is indicated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMatch evidence-informed interventions\u003c\/strong\u003e to the individual patient’s pain drivers, goals, preferences, readiness and functional needs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIntegrate psychologically informed strategies\u003c\/strong\u003e such as pain education, cognitive and behavioural skills, graded exposure, mindfulness, breathing, relaxation and expressive writing into physiotherapy practice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUse movement-based approaches\u003c\/strong\u003e, including cardiovascular exercise, sensory-motor retraining, yoga and qi gong, to address nervous-system sensitivity, altered body awareness, generalized tension and reduced physical capacity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition manual therapy and other passive modalities as adjuncts\u003c\/strong\u003e within an active, multimodal treatment plan while minimizing messages that may promote fear, dependency or a “broken body” mindset.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommunicate pain science in a validating, patient-centred manner \u003c\/strong\u003ethat supports self-efficacy, therapeutic alliance and shared decision-making.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDevelop an individualized, interdisciplinary treatment plan\u003c\/strong\u003e that integrates biological, psychological and social contributors to persistent pain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIdentify barriers to biopsychosocial implementation\u003c\/strong\u003e and create a realistic plan for introducing incremental changes into clinical practice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReflect on personal clinical assumptions\u003c\/strong\u003e, become more comfortable with uncertainty, and adopt an ongoing approach to professional growth and change.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAudience:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThis course is open to all healthcare professionals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrerequisites:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eNone – although the course title does include 'Level 3' in it, this course can be taken as a stand-alone course.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchedule\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate\/Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5:00pm - 8:00pm ET (Toronto). Please convert to your local time zone. Each course runs for 4 sessions. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDelivery Format\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis course is designed to be attended live during the specific dates and times listed. By attending live, you’ll be able to harness the benefits of live discussions, timely feedback, and a collaborative environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eInstructor\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCarolyn Vandyken, BHSc (PT), Registered Physiotherapist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCarolyn graduated from McMaster University in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy and has practiced in a wide variety of clinical settings, focusing primarily on orthopedics. She has been a McKenzie credentialed physiotherapist since 1999 and has been a member of the Canadian College of Medical Acupuncture since 2002.  She received a certificate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Healthcare Professionals from Wilfred Laurier University in 2016. Her clinical focus changed to Pelvic Health and Incontinence in 2001.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCarolyn was the co-founder of Pelvic Health Solutions, a Canadian-based post-graduate teaching company. She sold her interest in this company in 2019.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCarolyn is the co-owner of Reframe Rehab, a teaching company engaged in breaking down the barriers internationally between pelvic health, low back pain and pain science. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCarolyn presents extensively internationally on pelvic health, low back pain and central pain mechanisms.  She has published several framework articles on integrating central pain mechanisms into clinical practice, a pain education book, and several chapters in textbooks on pelvic pain and central sensitization.  She is actively involved in research with Dr. Sinead Dufour at McMaster University, as well as Dr. Judith Thompson at Curtin University.  She has published multiple studies on the connection between low back pain and pelvic floor dysfunction as well as co-created a screening questionnaire for sensory-motor dysregulation in perineal pain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCarolyn won the prestigious Woman of Distinction award from the YWCA in 2004 for her work in pelvic floor rehabilitation. Carolyn won the distinguished Education Award from the Ontario Physiotherapy Association in 2015.  Carolyn was recently awarded the Medal of Distinction from the Canadian Physiotherapy Association in 2021 for her work in pelvic health and pain science.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eShe co-owns her practice in Muskoka, Physio Works Muskoka along with her daughter, Brittany Vandyken.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Carolyn Vandyken","offers":[{"title":"September 27, October 4, 11 \u0026 18, 2026","offer_id":46875676377188,"sku":"2609lev3","price":350.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"November 8, 15, 22, \u0026 29, 2026","offer_id":46875676409956,"sku":"2611lev3","price":350.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0280\/4344\/4324\/files\/Level-3A--Biopsychosocial-Reframed_82a2f297-2835-4049-8544-eba759d472b4.jpg?v=1691600650","url":"https:\/\/courses.pelvichealthsolutions.ca\/products\/level-3-biopsychosocial-reframed-for-pelvic-health-and-msk-therapists-live-online","provider":"Pelvic Health Solutions Inc.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}