Lesson 1Work and lifestyle assessment: ergonomic risk at computer, sedentary behaviour, exercise habits, daily movement patternsThis part describes how to check work needs and lifestyle habits during pregnancy, covering computer setup, lifting jobs, sitting time, exercise routines, and everyday movements, to advise custom activity changes and prevention plans in Namibian settings.
Desk and computer ergonomics in pregnancyManual handling and lifting risk analysisAssessing sedentary time and breaksEvaluating exercise history and current activityDaily movement patterns and symptom linksEducation on safe work and home modificationsLesson 2Safety screening and risk stratification: identifying high-risk pregnancy signs, when to liaise with obstetric teamThis part covers thorough safety checks in pregnancy, stressing warning signs, health and birth risks, and simple rules for stopping treatment, changing methods, or quickly contacting the birth care team in Namibia.
Key medical and obstetric red flagsScreening for hypertensive disordersBleeding, fluid loss, and fetal movement changesContraindications to exercise and manual therapyWhen and how to liaise with obstetric providersDocumenting and communicating safety concernsLesson 3Key obstetric history questions: pregnancy timeline, previous pregnancies, complications, medications, obstetrician recommendationsThis part lists vital birth history questions, such as pregnancy dates, past births, delivery ways, problems, medicines, and ongoing birth advice, to guarantee safe, situation-based physiotherapy plans for Namibian women.
Establishing gestational age and trimestersPrevious pregnancies, births, and outcomesScreening for obstetric and medical complicationsCurrent pregnancy course and investigationsMedication, supplements, and contraindicationsAligning care with obstetric recommendationsLesson 4Breathing and diaphragmatic assessment: assessment of pattern, rib excursion, cough mechanics and its relation to pelvic floorThis part describes checking breathing ways in pregnancy, including diaphragm movement, rib flexibility, extra muscle use, cough ways, and how breathing links to pelvic floor actions in Namibian practice.
Observation of resting breathing patternPalpation of ribcage and abdominal excursionIdentifying upper chest and accessory breathingCough, sneeze, and load transfer assessmentBreath–pelvic floor coordination strategiesTeaching basic diaphragmatic breathing drillsLesson 5Physical observation: posture analysis (sitting, standing), pelvic alignment, lumbar mobility, hip and ribcage positionThis part handles careful body watching of pregnant women, covering still and moving posture, pelvic setup, lower back and hip flexibility, rib position, and how these guide load handling and personal treatment in Namibia.
Standing and sitting posture assessmentPelvic alignment and asymmetry checksLumbar mobility and movement patternsHip range, control, and compensation signsRibcage position and thoracic mobilityLinking observation findings to symptomsLesson 6Symptom-focused intake: pain characteristics, urinary symptoms, bowel function, sleep, activity tolerance, fear/psychosocial factorsThis part centres on organised, symptom-based intake, looking at pain types, urine and bowel issues, sleep quality, activity limits, and mind factors like fear, views, and stress affecting pregnancy symptoms in Namibia.
Pain location, behavior, and aggravating factorsUrinary frequency, urgency, and incontinenceBowel habits, straining, and constipationSleep quality, positions, and nocturnal symptomsActivity tolerance and functional limitationsScreening fear, mood, and catastrophizingLesson 7Clinical reasoning: synthesising findings into problem list, documenting goals and shared decision-making with pregnant patientThis part combines check results into a clear problem list, ranks body limits and life impacts, and shows goal setting, records, and joint choices with expectant mothers and the full care group in Namibia.
Synthesizing subjective and objective findingsFormulating a prioritized problem listSetting SMART, pregnancy-specific goalsCollaborative treatment planning with patientsInterprofessional communication and referralsReassessment and adapting the care planLesson 8Functional tests and outcome measures: validated pregnancy-specific pain and function scales, Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire, Oswestry, 6-minute walk or sit-to-stand adaptationsThis part looks at functional tests and results tools fit for pregnancy, including pelvic and low back pain measures, overall disability aids, and changed walk or sit-stand tests to watch progress and direct treatment in Namibian clinics.
Selecting pregnancy-appropriate questionnairesPelvic Girdle Questionnaire administrationUsing Oswestry and related disability scalesTimed walking and 6-minute walk adaptationsSit-to-stand and transfer test modificationsTracking outcomes and interpreting changeLesson 9Basic pelvic floor assessment: external observation, digital internal assessment principles, contraindications, red flags and when to referThis part starts basic pelvic floor checks for pregnant women, stressing outside watching, rules for inside digital checks, agreement, no-go cases, warning signs, and referral rules to expert helpers in Namibia.
Informed consent and trauma-sensitive approachExternal observation and perineal inspectionPrinciples of digital internal assessmentAssessing strength, endurance, and relaxationContraindications and red flag recognitionIndications for referral to specialists
