A seminar titled “Women’s and Men’s Health”, part of the Pelvic Floor Act program by PT PRAXIS®, was organized by Kinetics Health Education. This seminar, led by the heads of PT PRAXIS®, Mrs. Foteini Lagari and Mimi Marcellou, was conducted in two phases: online sessions on May 11-14 and 18-19, followed by in-person training on May 25-26 at Latifa Hospital, Dubai’s largest gynecological/obstetrics and pediatric hospital, hosted by the Department of Physiotherapy.
Seminar Program
Online Theory Sessions (14 hours total):
- 2 hours with participation from gynecologist/obstetrician Sabine Wunschmann, gynecological surgeon Dimitris Panagiotopoulos, urologist Diamantis Floratos, and colorectal surgeon Savvas Papagrigoriadis.
- 12 hours of theoretical content by Mrs. Lagari and Mrs. Marcellou.
In-Person Practical Training (2 days):
Delivered by the heads of PT PRAXIS® focusing on the Pelvic Floor health of both women and men.
The seminar was held at Dubai’s largest gynecological and pediatric hospital, Latifa Hospital, organized by Kinetics Health Education, founded and directed by physiotherapist Mrs. Athanasia Prentza. It was hosted by the hospital’s Physiotherapy Department, which includes pelvic floor rehabilitation among its services.
Seminar Objective
Aimed at healthcare professionals interested in identifying and addressing pelvic floor dysfunctions, the seminar covered topics such as:
- Functional anatomy and physiology of the Pelvic Floor.
- Introduction to Pelvic Floor dysfunctions and their association with symptoms like urinary and fecal incontinence, urgency, constipation, pelvic organ prolapse, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and more.
- Therapeutic options (invasive and conservative).
- Pelvic Floor muscle assessment.
- Pelvic floor muscle retraining, patient education, and exercise modification.
- Prevention and early detection of Pelvic Floor dysfunction.
Seminar Topics
The seminar was divided into a 14-hour online theoretical module and two days of hands-on practical training:
Day 1 Practical Application (Open to All):
- Breathing and the pelvic floor
- Awareness of Pelvic Floor functions and exercises
- Pelvic floor and core stability
- Pelvic floor health during pregnancy and childbirth
- Modifications to Pelvic Floor exercise programs
- Case discussions
Day 2 Practical Application (Exclusive to Physiotherapists):
- Initial Pelvic Floor assessment (including intravaginal examination)
- Clinical reasoning
- Case discussions
Participants and Feedback
The in-person seminar was attended by 16 physiotherapists, all of whom participated in the seminar evaluation. Feedback from 10 participants included:
- Naheed Kapadia, an active member of IUGA (International Urogynecological Association) and ICS (International Continence Society), Head of Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy at Latifa Hospital, and Dr. Gomathi Karunakaran, also a physiotherapist at Latifa Hospital.
- Mariam Ibrahim, Aline Farah, and Salma Al Hosni, physiotherapists at DISC (Diversified Integrated Sports Clinic) in Dubai.
- Dragana Sipka, Head Physiotherapist at King’s College Hospital.
- Gabriela Ramires De Oliveira, a Brazilian physiotherapist specializing in neuro-pediatrics and pioneer in Cuevas Medek Exercises (CME) for children.
- Juliane Boljahn (with a master’s degree in sports physiotherapy), Vanessa Von Der Heyden, and Princess Joy Hementera, physiotherapists at Orthosports Medical Center.
Videos
Participant Testimonials
Below are a few highlights from participants who rated the seminar as “excellent” (12 participants) or “very good” (4 participants):
- Naheed Kapadia: “An excellent seminar, very well-organized by Kinetics Health Education. I loved every session, both online and the hands-on application of knowledge. I’m looking forward to more professional development opportunities from these amazing instructors.”
- Aline Farah: “I just realized how much I didn’t know and how much more I need to learn about the pelvic floor. The lessons were incredibly useful.”
- Vanessa Von Der Heyden: “A wonderful seminar. Extremely informative and engaging. I learned a lot about myself and how to help other women. Truly amazing.”
- Dragana Sipka: “Remarkable sessions. I am grateful to have met the instructors – so knowledgeable and smart, with practical advice and tips they’ve mastered through hard work. I feel lucky and very satisfied to have attended.”
