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Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title Rehabilitation of the Active Female and the Pelvic Floor
Module Code TRE1017 (ITS: SS522)
Faculty Health & Human Performance School Science & Health
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating 10
Description

This module aims to provide the student with advanced practically applicable skills to rehabilitate the dysfunctional female pelvic floor within the context of the whole body, and across a variety of sports and exercise types. Skills on how to support, maintain and adapt exercise in active females with dysfunctional pelvic floor will be taught. The module will allow students to gain an understanding of the active female pelvic floor assessment and how that impacts rehabilitation. Sound rehabilitation principles that prevents pelvic floor dysfunction will be taught. This module will tailor content inclusive of all active females; from recreational to elite athletes and will include evidence-based content throughout.

Learning Outcomes

1. Outline and critically evaluate how sport and exercise affects the female pelvic floor in the active female.
2. Detail and critique the principles of clinical assessment
3. Explain and clinically reason the principles of pelvic floor dysfunction rehabilitation in the active female.
4. Using biopsychosocial principles, critique the significance of mindset within rehabilitation of the active female’s pelvic floor.


WorkloadFull time hours per semester
TypeHoursDescription
Lecture24Online lectures
Tutorial12Online tutorials
Directed learning24Directed learning tasks
Independent Study190Independent study, self-reflection and tasks
Total Workload: 250
Section Breakdown
CRN21175Part of TermSemester 2
Coursework0%Examination Weight0%
Grade Scale40PASSPass Both ElementsY
Resit CategoryRC2Best MarkN
Module Co-ordinatorDeirdre PhelanModule TeacherHelen Keeble
Section Breakdown
CRN21331Part of TermSemester 2
Coursework0%Examination Weight0%
Grade Scale40PASSPass Both ElementsY
Resit CategoryRC2Best MarkN
Module Co-ordinatorHelen KeebleModule Teacher
Assessment Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Digital ProjectCollaborative Video Group Project. Students will be provided with a real-life case study and will be asked to design and demonstrate teaching sound rehabilitation techniques for pelvic floor dysfunction. They will be required to adapt and modify their rehabilitation as required. Each group will receive a different case study and all video recordings of their developed rehabilitation programme will be made available to fellow students for learning purposes. Students featuring in the video will be required to provide written confirmation for the video to be shared among the students in the cohort. If they do not provide written confirmation their video will not be shared.60%Sem 1 End
AssignmentWritten Assignment. Learners will develop a written document that includes: 1. A handout detailing the rehabilitation designed for the collaborative video with supporting pictures and 2. Demonstrate their clinical reasoning on the rehabilitation exercises chosen for this case study. The learner is required to critically appraise the available literature and reference their choices as appropriate.40%Sem 1 End
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.

* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Optimising sport and performance from the inside out. Is there more to optimizing and future proofing the pelvic floor
1. The importance of keeping active to support a healthy pelvic floor vs detrimental to the pelvic floor. Inclusive of a wide range of sports and exercise types (high impact, weight lifting, high intensity)

Understanding of the assessment of the active female pelvic floor
1. Knowledge of external, musculoskeletal and internal considerations 2. Pelvic floor muscle activity in sports and exercise

Principles of rehabilitation
1. The principles of rehabilitation 2. Use of practical PROMs and objective measurement tools that guide progression 3. The link between pelvic floor rehabilitation and sports injury rehabilitation.

Rehabilitating pelvic floor dysfunction in the active female: Prolapse (cystocele, uterine and rectocele)
1. The efficacy and efficiency of conservative/non-invasive methods 2. Sport and exercise adaptation to maintain activity levels. 3. Knowledge of surgical options and recovery post surgery 4. High impact and weight lifting/strength and conditioning 5. Rehabilitation principles in recovery 6. Real life case studies

Rehabilitating pelvic floor dysfunction in the active female: Incontinence (bladder and bowel)
1. The efficacy and efficiency of conservative/non-invasive methods 2. Sport and exercise adaptation to maintain activity levels. 3. Knowledge of surgical options and recovery post surgery 4. High impact and weight lifting/strength and conditioning 5. Rehabilitation principles in recovery 6. Real life case studies

Rehabilitating pelvic floor dysfunction in the active female: Pelvic pain/non-relaxing pelvic floor
1. The holistic approach to rehabilitation. 2. Management and recovery strategies 3. Strategies to aid training and exercise 4. The biopsychosocial model and recovery 5. High impact and weight lifting/strength and conditioning 6. Real life case studies

Active Female Mindset
Coaching and motivating the active female

Multidisciplinary collaboration in the care of the active female
Integration and importance of the multidisciplinary team and collaboration in the active female's rehabilitation.

Indicative Reading List

Books:
  • Diane G. Lee: 2020, The Pelvic Girdle, 5th Edition, Elsevier, 448, 0702068195
  • Jacky Forsyth, Claire-Marie Roberts: 2021, The Exercising Female: Science and Its Application, 1st, Routledge, 288, 9780367615925


Articles:
  • H. Keeble: 2022, Functional assessment of the female pelvic floor., 130, 27, POGP, https://thepogp.co.uk/journals/purchase/31/pogp_journal_issue_130_spring_2022/207/, 517641
  • 2021: An International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for pelvic floor muscle assessment., Neurourology Urodynamics, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33844342/, 517642, 1
  • Urinary incontinence & pelvic organ prolapse in women: Management.: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng123/resources/urinary-incontinence-and-pelvic-organ-prolapse-in-women-management-pdf-66141657205189, 517643, 1, NICE Guidelines
  • https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng210/resources/pelvic-floor-dysfunction-prevention-and-nonsurgical-management-pdf-66143768482501:
Other Resources

None

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