Course Content

(2xFree Preview videos - Chapters 1 and 7)

  • 1

    Important Course Information and Disclaimer

  • 2

    Diastasis Rectus Abdominis - Overview

    • Lecture 1 - Overview (video presentation)

    • Downloadable Lecture 1 Slides (1 slide per page)

    • Downloadable Lecture 1 Slides (handout version)

    • Lecture 2 - Anatomy and Function of the Abdominal Wall (video presentation)

    • Downloadable Lecture 2 Slides (1 slide per page)

    • Downloadable Lecture 2 Slides (handout version)

  • 3

    Assessing Diastasis Rectus Abdominis

    • Lecture 3 - Assessment of DRA (video presenation)

    • Downloadable Lecture 3 Slides (1 slide per page)

    • Downloadable Lecture 3 Slides (handout version)

    • DRA evaluation via palpation

  • 4

    Conservative Management of Diastasis Rectus Abdominis

    • Lecture 4 - Conservative Management of DRA (video presentation)

    • Downloadable Lecture 4 Slides (1 slide per page)

    • Downloadable Lecture 4 Slides (handout version)

  • 5

    Surgical Management of Diastasis Rectus Abdominis

    • Lecture 5 - Surgical Management of DRA (video presentation)

    • Downloaable Lecture 5 Slides (1 slide per page)

    • Downloadable Lecture 5 Slides (handout version)

  • 6

    Case Studies

    • Lecture 6 - Case Studies (video presentation)

    • Downloadable Lecture 6 Slides (1 slide per page)

    • Downloadable Lecture 6 Slides (handout version)

  • 7

    Live Case Study - Claire's journey with DRA

    • **A case-study with a difference**

    • Before DRA...

    • Lecture 7 - Live Case-Study (video presentation)

    • Downloadable Lecture 7 Slides (1 slide per page)

    • Downloadable Lecture 7 Slides (handout version)

    • Consult 1

    • Consult 2 with Antony Lo (@physiodetective)

    • Consult 3

    • Consult 4

    • Consult 5

    • Bio-Psycho-Social Impact of Living with DRA (09/03/20)

    • Update from Claire (14/04/20)

    • **The rehabilitation "transition"**

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Progressing rehab...

    • Consult 6 with Antony Lo (@physiodetective) and Lyndsey Whitson (NHS Physio)

    • Updates from Claire (May 2020) "Be the change you want to see in yourself"

    • Claire attempts full sit-ups with feet anchored (19-04-20 )

    • Claire's rehab program

    • Consult 7 with Claire and Lyndsey

    • Consult 8 Claire is experiencing low back pain

    • Repeated validated outcome measures used to monitor Claire's rehabilitation

    • Consult 9 **Assessing Claire in person**

    • Consult 10 (Team session with BIG NEWS)

    • Consult 11 (1:1 in person with Gráinne)

  • 8

    Course Summary and Completion

    • DRA Summary Sketch

    • Course Completion Video

  • 9

    Additional Learning Resources

    • Journal Paper: Diastasis rectus abdominis - physiotherapy management

    • Journal Book Review October 2018: Diastasis Rectus Abdominis - A guide for those who are split down the middle

    • Returning to running postnatal – guideline for medical, health and fitness professionals managing this population (ACPSEM Endorsed)

    • Educational Infographics

Course Reviews

5 star rating

not just for womens health physiotherapists

Rosie davie

wealth of knowledge from Grainne and really going above and beyond to cover all aspects of Diastasis. Great case study to follow and input from the physiodec...

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wealth of knowledge from Grainne and really going above and beyond to cover all aspects of Diastasis. Great case study to follow and input from the physiodective Antony Lowe was an extra bonus. Would highly recommend to msk physiotherapists treating the post natal population, private physiotherapists, sports and exercise clinicians. Thank you to Grainne for all her time in putting this course together and getting it out during lockdown!

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5 star rating

Highly recommend

Bridget Gallagher

This course will definitely change my practice in managing clients with DRA. There is so much learning and clinically useful content to be gained from the co...

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This course will definitely change my practice in managing clients with DRA. There is so much learning and clinically useful content to be gained from the course. Looking forward to applying my new knowledge in practice! The case study and input from Antony Lo is a great bonus also.

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5 star rating

The course I've been waiting for.....

Caroline Barron

Through my MSK work and personal experience I knew I needed to be more confidence in loading these patients. This course gives me the confidence to do this. ...

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Through my MSK work and personal experience I knew I needed to be more confidence in loading these patients. This course gives me the confidence to do this. An amazing course and resource. And thank you Clare for being such a great case study... if only all our patients were as proactive and confident in seeking change.

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5 star rating

very good

Riet Van Aerschot

The set-up was very good and the content itself was particularly good for me as a physiotherapist. I learned a lot about the assessment and treatment of DRA...

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The set-up was very good and the content itself was particularly good for me as a physiotherapist. I learned a lot about the assessment and treatment of DRA (dare to load without hard doming). My patients really appreciate the information I can provide now.

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5 star rating

An Excellent Course

Roisin Devlin

This course really pulls together the current evidence base for DRA, and enables an insight into practical treatment and rehab options. The flexibility of on...

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This course really pulls together the current evidence base for DRA, and enables an insight into practical treatment and rehab options. The flexibility of online learning worked really well for me and there are so many great resources in the course that I know I will turn to again and again. (I also enjoyed seeing Grainne display the reality of 'Mum life'.)

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5 star rating

so much to learn from

Daniela Künze

Thank you for this great course! I realley enjoyed learning more over DRA, especially what the research shows us and the emphasis that we need to load the t...

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Thank you for this great course! I realley enjoyed learning more over DRA, especially what the research shows us and the emphasis that we need to load the tissue in order to progress. For me as a (former) sports physiotherapist a well known principle and I was enthousiast to tell my clients about this course and the progression from the case study. I also loved the "soft skills" you showed in the consults with Claire to let her find out by herself what she already can do!

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5 star rating

Well researched, enjoyable course which will have an imme...

Breeda Lewis

Really enjoyable course, learning points can be applied immediately in clinic which I feel is not always the case with CPD. This course leaves you feeling th...

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Really enjoyable course, learning points can be applied immediately in clinic which I feel is not always the case with CPD. This course leaves you feeling that you can go ahead and treat patients with DRA with confidence, encompassing the person as a whole. Great to have a case study to follow along, including the initial assessments, to see the exercise progression. Also I was genuinely inspired by Gráinne combining mothering with working life! Well done on putting together a great course - I'm looking forward to going through it again, reading up on the research mentioned throughout and I know that I will dip in and out of the course regularly. Thank you.

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5 star rating

Have no words how amazing this course is!

Eszter O. Szabo

The course Grainne put together is absolutely fascinating and wonderful and all the great adjectives you can think of! Outstanding work! It is evidence-base...

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The course Grainne put together is absolutely fascinating and wonderful and all the great adjectives you can think of! Outstanding work! It is evidence-based and up to date with a live case study, which all health and fitness professionals should appreciate massively, adds so much value when we face tons of misinformation on social media and on the internet. I have learnt a lot, I cannot wait to use my knowledge helping postnatal ladies with diastasis and to spread the word about the course. Every health and fitness professional working with postnatal ladies should complete it. If I could give 6 stars I would totally do! Thank you, Grainne!

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5 star rating

Essential for any health/fitness professional working wit...

Alice Morgan

Such a fantastic course really pulling together all of the evidence base and clinical experience from experts in the field to deliver a resource which helps ...

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Such a fantastic course really pulling together all of the evidence base and clinical experience from experts in the field to deliver a resource which helps to guide both health professionals and fitness professionals through the management and rehabilitation of someone with Diastasis. I could not recommend this course enough, and I just wish I had been armed with this information during my own postnatal recoveries. I can't wait to educate and progress with my clients.

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5 star rating

Really Really great course!

Tal Yishay

I'm so glad I have taken this course, I have been learning bits about Diastasis in many courses and wasn't sure how much more can you learn about it, but th...

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I'm so glad I have taken this course, I have been learning bits about Diastasis in many courses and wasn't sure how much more can you learn about it, but this course really gave me a different perspective! It was so organized, took me step by step and I really feel I can manage it much better today and be a better therapist for my patients. I loved the case study, to follow a full holistic process was really good and tied it all together. Thank you Grainne! (: Tal

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5 star rating

Online Learning

Caroline Callister

Fantastic course. Informative and well presented. It will certainly change how I treat this population of patients, and reduce my fears about pushing exercis...

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Fantastic course. Informative and well presented. It will certainly change how I treat this population of patients, and reduce my fears about pushing exercise and loading. I thoroughly enjoyed the live case study, great to see the nitty gritty, ups and downs of a real patient journey. For me, the online learning was also great. I tend to make lots of notes and miss information during face to face lectures and courses. I found myself putting my pen down and just listening to the content, happy in the knowledge that I can revisit sections as I need to. Many thanks to all involved in the course, the knowledge you have shared is invaluable. Also, thank you to Claire for your honesty and allowing us to watch your amazing journey.

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5 star rating

Great Work!

Kate Garden

Thank you Grainne for a fabulous course, so thorough, great research and deep insight. Super presentations and videos, thanks for Claire's involvement and lo...

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Thank you Grainne for a fabulous course, so thorough, great research and deep insight. Super presentations and videos, thanks for Claire's involvement and look forward to learning more about her journey. Very thought provoking for my assessment and management from here. Thanks!

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5 star rating

Louise Field - Adore Your Pelvic Floor

Louise Field

A great background of evidence whilst including real life case studies and videos. Heaps of information in helping clear up the confusion with Diastasis and...

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A great background of evidence whilst including real life case studies and videos. Heaps of information in helping clear up the confusion with Diastasis and exercise prescription. I have been waiting for this for a long time, thank you so much Absolute Physio. I have and will continue to recommend this course to fitness and health professionals.

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4 star rating

the title lives up to the course content

Deirdre Roddy

I needed to do this type of course at this stage in my career to ensure I could provide women with DRA the best outcome. Initially, paying for the course I ...

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I needed to do this type of course at this stage in my career to ensure I could provide women with DRA the best outcome. Initially, paying for the course I felt it may have been a bit costly, but having completed the course I feel the info provided and group therapist sessions are very beneficial. Current research is well documented and non biased, and the final 50 min where Grainne is in discussion with Anthony is very educational, and I rewatched and listened numerous times, and felt I got a lot from this session. Following Claire's journey and case study was excellent, over the months, and gives us therapists the confidence and reassurance to progress with patients and this can take time, we can plateau and need to change direction. The only minor piece of feedback was that perhaps there was a lot of diary footage included from the subject, but others could find this helpful. Thanks for a great bit of information, and I will be referring back to parts in the weeks and months to come.

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5 star rating

diastasis course

jackie robertson

loved this course. Gave me a whole new enthusiasm for treating this population, loads of light bulb moments and joining up of dots.

loved this course. Gave me a whole new enthusiasm for treating this population, loads of light bulb moments and joining up of dots.

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5 star rating

diastasic revolution review

Anna Tobin

I think that Grainne does a great job of delivering and interesting and informative course online. I particularly liked the practical application of knowled...

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I think that Grainne does a great job of delivering and interesting and informative course online. I particularly liked the practical application of knowledge via the case study and look forward to improving my treatment practice. I would recommend this course

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5 star rating

Fantastic, well-researched course

Helena Costiff

A really well researched course from a Physio who is clearly passionate about her subject. Thorough, clearly explained and detailed with really good relatio...

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A really well researched course from a Physio who is clearly passionate about her subject. Thorough, clearly explained and detailed with really good relation to real life clinical practice and case studies used. I really feel what I have learned on this course will have a huge impact on my practice, in particular giving me confidence in particular avoiding the pitfalls of sometimes being too conservative and not challenging the patient as much as they need to progress towards their specific goals. Highly recommended!

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5 star rating

Fantastic course

Anne-Marie Campbell

I have found the course to be fantastic and feel that I am much more prepared and confident in treating this patient population. I have always been very caut...

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I have found the course to be fantastic and feel that I am much more prepared and confident in treating this patient population. I have always been very cautious with these patients in the past and no longer fear the progression of exercise.

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5 star rating

Niki Hurst

Nicola Hurst

Game changer!! Thank you Grainne, Claire and everyone else involved! This has been a fantastic overview of the current research, assessment and treatment of ...

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Game changer!! Thank you Grainne, Claire and everyone else involved! This has been a fantastic overview of the current research, assessment and treatment of Diastasis. The live course was on my 'wish list' but actually being able to do it online allowed me to sit back and absorb more plus there is the added bonus of revisiting the course content. The use of live case studies and videos enhanced the course demonstarting both the physical side to rehab but also, equally important, the holistic viewpoint. I have a new enthusiasm for treating DRA so thanks again!

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5 star rating

Fantastic, well-researched course

Helena Costiff

A really well researched course from a Physio who is clearly passionate about her subject. Thorough, clearly explained and detailed with really good relatio...

Read More

A really well researched course from a Physio who is clearly passionate about her subject. Thorough, clearly explained and detailed with really good relation to real life clinical practice and case studies used. I really feel what I have learned on this course will have a huge impact on my practice, in particular giving me confidence in particular avoiding the pitfalls of sometimes being too conservative and not challenging the patient as much as they need to progress towards their specific goals. Highly recommended!

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5 star rating

A great course! Thank you

Bally Lidder

A fantastic, logical, progressive course, going through a;; the stages of diastasis rehab. It was lovely to see the progression of the patient and great to s...

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A fantastic, logical, progressive course, going through a;; the stages of diastasis rehab. It was lovely to see the progression of the patient and great to see how her exercises were progressed. I found it the tips on measuring circumference as well as gap, and noting the depth of the gap not just the width really useful as I had not been doing this. Will definitely use your pro forma on assessments to ensure I complete in a thorough and logical way. Thank you so much.

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5 star rating

A definite revolution

Katy Holmes

I find myself constantly looking back at this. There is so much information jam packed in. I love the approach Grainne takes.

I find myself constantly looking back at this. There is so much information jam packed in. I love the approach Grainne takes.

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5 star rating

Great title. Accurately reflects the content.

Hannah Bennett

Really nice summary of what we know in the literature which is really useful in order to teach other physios in my department. The live case study is excel...

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Really nice summary of what we know in the literature which is really useful in order to teach other physios in my department. The live case study is excellent to put everything of what Grainne is telling us into practice and see her doing it. I'm still following Claire and her journey and it looks like info and rehab surrounding Diastasis in general is progressing at a huge rate. I think it is progressing at a rapid rate because with several physios working on it together and broadcasting their findings and theories it has stimulated a lot of chatter which is excellent. We all work better as a team and if that team is global then thats fantastic! I have and will continue to be spreading the word. Thanks to much Grainne.

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star rating

5 star rating

Fantastic, thought provoking course!

Ashleigh Howe

I have throughly enjoyed this online course and I would highly recommend to any fitness/health professional who sees the pre and post natal population. The l...

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I have throughly enjoyed this online course and I would highly recommend to any fitness/health professional who sees the pre and post natal population. The layout of the course was great, starting with the fundamentals of the anatomy and the research behind the management of DRA and it made me realise we need so much more research and investigations into this condition. Absolutely loved the live case study which then applied all the fundamentals and enabled you to see how the principles of the PPP-RR-LD can be used. It really hit home to me how hard it must be for clients with a DRA and that it is so important that we look at them as a whole person and what they want to get back to and to remove a lot of fear with loading and exercise. Thanks to Grainne Donnelly for putting together this course and I will definitely be sharing what I have learned with my MSK colleagues and also putting my new knowledge into practice with my patients.

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5 star rating

Love it, concise but informative

Helen Jimenez-ulloa

So much knowledge packed into this course.

So much knowledge packed into this course.

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5 star rating

Brilliant and so informative

Rachel Velvin

I really enjoyed this course. It was a perfect compliment of lots of knowledge I had/realised I had and lots of new ways of thinking and treating diastasis....

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I really enjoyed this course. It was a perfect compliment of lots of knowledge I had/realised I had and lots of new ways of thinking and treating diastasis. I really enjoyed your approach to this Grainne and involving other experts too. You presentations are so clear and concise and I feel like you cover all areas, leaving no stone/diastatsis myth unturned :) The case study was documented so well. Following the journey really made me feel like I was part of the process too. I really hope we get to hear more about Claire's journey post 2nd pregnancy. At the beginning I thought it was a lengthy case study to follow but by the end I was so pleased that all of the assessments, chats and treatments had been included in the course. Please share any updates :) I will definitely assess and treat diastasis clients with a more progressive thought process in the future. Thank you for sharing all the research and keeping diastasis exciting and fresh. I have really enjoyed expanding my knowledge in this way. Grainne I think your approach to clients, thoughts and research around diastasis and innovative ways of presenting is really inspiring. Thank you!

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5 star rating

Amazing, informative course. Appropriate for anyone wanti...

Rosie Cardale

This has been such a fantastic course to complete and come back to on the area of diastasis. Grainne helps to educate and inform you in a clear, concise mann...

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This has been such a fantastic course to complete and come back to on the area of diastasis. Grainne helps to educate and inform you in a clear, concise manner on this sometimes complicated area and it has really helped my clinical practice. Thank you Grainne!

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5 star rating

Incredible resource

Jenny Fielding

This course is brilliantly structured, and the continual updates on the case study are a great way to ensure the knowledge is demonstrated in a practical and...

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This course is brilliantly structured, and the continual updates on the case study are a great way to ensure the knowledge is demonstrated in a practical and clinically relevant way. I keep coming back for reference. Highly recommend

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5 star rating

Fantastic course

Anne-Marie Campbell

I have found the course to be fantastic and feel that I am much more prepared and confident in treating this patient population. I have always been very caut...

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I have found the course to be fantastic and feel that I am much more prepared and confident in treating this patient population. I have always been very cautious with these patients in the past and no longer fear the progression of exercise.

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5 star rating

fantastic course

alison ashman

Excellent course- really liked the videos so much info to take in great to see the practical application of assessment and treatment

Excellent course- really liked the videos so much info to take in great to see the practical application of assessment and treatment

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5 star rating

Excellent! Completely changed the way I think about DRA!

Lynne Barrow

Thank you so much for creating this course - it has transformed completely the way I think about DRA & its management. This will allow much greater scop...

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Thank you so much for creating this course - it has transformed completely the way I think about DRA & its management. This will allow much greater scope in rehabilitation and management options and look forward to putting this into practice.

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5 star rating

Diastasis Revolution: evidence-based evaluation and manag...

Samantha Head

An absolute must for an extensive understanding of diastasis rectus abdominis and its management. Thankyou Grainne for sharing your incredible knowledge with...

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An absolute must for an extensive understanding of diastasis rectus abdominis and its management. Thankyou Grainne for sharing your incredible knowledge within this field, enabling us to give best care and rehabilitation and empowerment to these patients. Great course.

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4 star rating

Course evaluation

Alison Young

Took me a while but I finally managed to complete the course. I really enjoyed the theory , assessment and how to progress treatments. Also how important it ...

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Took me a while but I finally managed to complete the course. I really enjoyed the theory , assessment and how to progress treatments. Also how important it is to give patients the confidence to exercise and not be frightened to do abdominal exercises. Having a case study was good but I would have prefered a few different patients with varying degrees of diastasis. Claire was great to share her experience but I felt there was too many consultations over zoom that were really long with just the one patient. It was half of the course and this was inpart why it took me so long to complete as it was a lot of the same conversations.

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5 star rating

Great Course!

Judi Battle

Really enjoying the course.Great to be able to learn at my own speed around my other work and home commitments. Brilliant, evidence based content, really cle...

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Really enjoying the course.Great to be able to learn at my own speed around my other work and home commitments. Brilliant, evidence based content, really clearly presented with excellent downloadable handouts / resources. Thanks Grainne! Looking forward to watching the case studies next to consolidate the info.

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Instructor(s)

Course Co-founder and Creator

Grainne Donnelly

Gráinne Donnelly is an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner, educator and clinical researcher in the field of pelvic health who is from N. Ireland, UK. She is passionate about improving access to knowledge translation and improving the standard and quality of physiotherapy provision. Find out more about Gráinne at www.absolute.physio

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