4th Symposium ‘Idealized Integrated Care
Understanding menopause - related pelvic floor changes
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that in 2030 around 1.2 billion women will be over 50 years of age, a number three times higher than in 1990. “Consequently, access to information regarding menopause and its sequels is extremely important. Due to the increase in life expectancy, many women will live for decades in a state of estrogen deficiency in the post-menopausal period.
Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women worldwide are threatened. To guide and manage women through this critical life transition, clinicians need adequate insight, knowledge and practical skills. Women should receive appropriate information, assessment and treatment during the post-reproductive years.
In peri- and postmenopausal women pelvic physiotherapy has effects in pelvic floor dysfunctions, such as urinary- and anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and genitourinary syndrome included sexual dysfunctions during menopause.
Based on scientific evidence, the aim of this clinical practical symposium is to provide strategies which are effective and improve the quality of life of menopausal women.
‘Idealized Integrated Care for 'Understanding menopause'.
The symposium will be held in Bary’s hometown, Maastricht, The Netherlands in collaboration with Maastricht University Medical Center+. The location of the workshops and symposium will be NH hotel Maastricht, a trusted location for this kind of conferences.
For attendees we have the possibility to stay at NH Hotel. For more information you can contact symposium@iclimburg.nl.
The new way to assist your patients outside the treatment room
iPelvis Evo is an innovative app developed by dr. Maura Seleme to allow patients to actively train the pelvic floor muscles in addition to their pelvic physiotherapy in practice. This app not only helps the patients with the follow-up training, but also helps the patient structure the training and contributes to achieving a sustainable result.
In the comfort of the home environment, the patient learns to work independently on improvement.
Accessible to all
The beautiful, easy and clear design can be used by both young and old and both men and women. The patient can download the app in the various app stores on the various phones, but can also receive a token from you as a pelvic physiotherapist.
Scientifically approved
iPelvis Evo is an innovative and versatile mobile application within the care of incontinence. Based on research, intensive efforts are being made to construct an optimally accessible and scientifically approved mobile application.
Insightful for you as a healthcare professional
iPelvis provides adequate information and education, correct patient selection and physiological basic principles, the effectiveness and reliabilty of which have been established. As a healthcare professional you can watch the execution of the exercises, which gives you insight into your patient's progress.
Available in Dutch, English and Portugese!
Our speakers
Dr. Bary Berghmans
Bary started his career as a physical therapist. In 1980 he set up his practice ICL Fysio, which ICL Arbeid later joined as a second organization. Within ICL Fysio, Bary is still active as a regular physiotherapist and as a pelvic physiotherapist, his specialization. Bary is co-founder and former senior researcher of the Pelvic care Center Maastricht, involved in the epidemiology department at Maastricht University and the urology department of the MUMC+. On behalf of the KNGF, he was partly responsible for writing national and international guidelines. In 2022 he received honorary membership from the KNGF/NVFB for his work. He also received by far the greatest token of appreciation in 2022, as he was appointed Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau.
Dr. Maura Seleme
Maura is originally Brazilian. She obtained her PhD at the University of Rio de Janeiro. Her knowledge and experience is broad and she likes to share this with colleagues. She is the only pelvic physiotherapist recognized in Brazil, France and the Netherlands. Maura works as a pelvic physiotherapy coordinator for Faculdade Inspirar, a leading training institute in 42 Brazilian cities. In addition, she is the general manager of abafi-Brasil and abafi-Holland, is the inventor and project leader of iPelvis Evo (an innovative app for training the pelvic floor) and has chaired the Special Intererst Group Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation at IUGA.
Dr. Anna Padoa
Anna Padoa, MD, is chair of the Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Service at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Israel. Dr Padoa’s expertise includes female sexual dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse and female urinary incontinence, and treatment of sexual abuse survivors. Dr Padoa is chair of the Education Committee at the European Urogynecological Association (EUGA), chair of the Female Sexual Dysfunction scientific subcommitte of the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM) and chair of the "Pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire- internationally revised (PISQ-IR) translation and validation group" at International Urogynecologic Association (IUGA). Dr Padoa has published several original studies, review manuscripts and book chapters in the field of urogynecology and sexual medicine, and is co-editor of the book “The Overactive Pelvic Floor”, published by Springer Switzerland. Dr Padoa is co-founder and Secretary of the “Israeli Healthcare Association for Sexual Trauma Treatment and Prevention (ISTT)”.
Prof. dr. Kari Bø
Kari is a well-known (pelvic) physiotherapist and movement scientist. She obtained her doctorate in 1990 as a doctor of science and in 1997 was appointed professor of human movement sciences. She was elected Pro-Rector of NIH (a specialized university) from 1998-2001 and Rector of NIH from 2013-2017. She was the first Vice President of the International Organization of Physical Therapists of Women's Health, WCPT 1999-2007, and has been the Vice President of the Norwegian Physical Therapist Council for 8 years, which provides direct advice to the Norwegian Minister of Health on physical activity, fitness and health.
Dr. Abdallahi N'Dongo
Dr. N'Dongo studied medicine in China and became a gynecologist and obstetrician in France. He has a special interest in urogynaecology and functional problems of the pelvic floor. In addition to being a clinician, he has become an expert in electrical stimulation and biofeedback and has lectured in several countries with a special focus on the clinical practice of physiotherapy related to urogynecological health problems. He has developed many protocols related to electrical stimulation and biofeedback, both for assessment and treatment.
Prof. Dr. Hedwig Neels
Hedwig Neels is a physiotherapist with a PhD in women’s pelvic health, working at the Antwerp University (Hospital) Belgium, where she combines scientific research, teaching and clinical work.
She has a special interest in 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound and a strong passion to raise awareness and improve the prevention of pelvic floor dysfunction in women. She is the author of Het bekkenbodemboek, published for the lay public with beautiful illustrations, practical tips and exercises. She is the founder of The Pelvic Floor, provides on- and offline expertise and information to women, female athletes and professionals. She is also a committed member and ambassador in several IUGA and other (inter)national committees.
Ir. George Billard
Ir. George Billard created the company VIVALTIS in August 1999 in order to realize the company's service using his professional experience in design office and market knowledge of rehabilitation. VIVALTIS designs, manufactures and markets physical therapy tools, like innovative wireless biofeedback and electrostimulation, designed for physiotherapists and midwives.
Based in Montpellier, France, the company benefits from the proximity of a university medical center among the largest in Europe. George Billard ‘s mission is to put customers central. Surrounded during the creation of the business by market players, Vivaltis has partnered with functional rehabilitation professionals from the design of their physiotherapy tools until accompaniment in the use of these tools.
Ass. Prof. Magdalena Emilia Grzybowska
Assistant Professor in the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology at the Medical University of Gdańsk, and Deputy Head of the Obstetrics Unit at the University Clinical Centre in Gdańsk.
She has been active in the field of urogynecology for over 20 years, with a particular focus on sexual function in women with pelvic floor disorders.
A graduate of the Medical University of Gdańsk, she is a specialist in obstetrics, gynecology, and gynecological oncology. She is the author of numerous scientific publications on gynecology, urogynecology, and perinatal care, and serves as a reviewer for several academic journals.
She is a board member of the Urogynecology Section of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians and co-author of the Polish guidelines for managing pelvic floor disorders (2021–2023).
She is actively involved in international associations such as the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) and the International Continence Society, contributing to committees on standardization and terminology. She also participates in an international project focused on updating terminology related to female pelvic floor and lower urinary tract function.