Title: NED Meeting: Running Foundations: Exploring the Relationship Between Pelvic Floor Muscle Function and Running Kinematics

Zoom Meeting will start at 7:00 P.M. 

Speakers: Michael Steimling PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT 

About the Speaker: Dr. Steimling is an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Moravian University and is the primary academic faculty for the musculoskeletal series. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Pittsburgh with a major in Exercise Science in 2010 and his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Drexel University in 2013. Dr. Steimling has distinguished himself as a clinical expert in sports and orthopedic rehabilitation. He has been an ABPTS board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedics since 2015 and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists since completing the Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Therapy from Regis University in 2018.Dr. Steimling has 10 years of clinical experience in an orthopedic and sports physical therapy setting and has a special interest in managing running-prohibitive injuries and conditions, including orthopedic conditions and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. His research interests include running biomechanics and its relationship to running prohibitive conditions and using gait retraining to manage those conditions.

Course Description: The pelvic floor muscle group is responsible for regulating intrabdominal pressure and assists in maintaining continence during dynamic activities. Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is a form of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and is the involuntary loss of urine during activities that increase intrabdominal pressure, like coughing, sneezing, standing from a chair, jumping, or running. SUI affects 20% of postpartum females and 35% of female athletes. With approximately 39% of women reporting that urinary symptoms hinder their ability to exercise, particularly in high-impact activities like running, it is crucial to explore the implication of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction on female exercise participation. This presentation will delve into the role of pelvic floor muscles during running and how a better understanding of this function could lead to improved treatments for stress urinary incontinence and related conditions. This presentation will detail normal pelvic floor muscle function, including regulation of intraabdominal pressure, postural stability, and maintaining continence. This course will also review running kinematics and their relationship with pelvic floor muscle function in individuals with and without pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. Lastly, this presentation will review running gait retraining, which uses motor learning principles to change aspects of a runner’s gait to reduce stress on injured or less load-tolerant tissues, including the pelvic floor, in cases of SUI.

Location: Hybrid Meeting

In-Person: Moravian University: 1441 Schoenersville Road - SMRC 220 Bethlehem, PA 18018

Approved For .75 General and .75 Evaluative Contact Hours

Register Here for In-Person

Register Here on Zoom