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Congenital Diastasis Rectus Abdominis - Comprehensive Pediatric Assessment & Treatment

Congenital Diastasis Rectus Abdominis - Comprehensive Pediatric Assessment & Treatment

Congenital Diastasis Rectus Abdominis - Comprehensive Pediatric Assessment & Treatment

CA$325.00
This course includes
 
Lifetime access after purchase
 
Certificate of completion
CEU approved
The instructors
This course was recorded in April 2024

Overview

This integrated course delivers the full spectrum of knowledge and skills around congenital diastasis of the rectus abdominis (cDRA) in infants and children—merging the three separate modules into one cohesive learning journey.

You’ll explore:

  • Anatomy & Function: Development of the linea alba and rectus abdominis in newborns vs adults; motor‐development implications. 

  • Functional Consequences: Can cDRA affect respiration, posture, trunk control, neurodevelopment or gross motor milestones?

  • Assessment & Classification: Observation, palpation, inter‑rectus distance measures, posture break test, dynamic neuromuscular stabilization test, red‑flag screening. 

  • Therapeutic Reasoning & Sequencing: Structured treatment approaches based on developmental sequencing, pressure system awareness, and tailored motor activation. 

  • Elastic Therapeutic Taping: Skin approach to taping—technique, physics of skin stretch, tape as an assessment tool, case applications.

 

Learning Objectives

By course completion, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain pediatric cDRA anatomy and potential motor development implications.

  2. Identify clinical signs, classify severity, and interpret red‑flag indicators.

  3. Use posture break testing and dynamic neuromotor stabilization to guide clinical decision‑making.

  4. Reason through evidence‑based treatment sequencing tailored to individual cDRA presentations.

  5. Apply elastic therapeutic taping—understanding skin mechanics and tape direction—for both assessment and intervention.


Target Audience

This course is ideal for:

  • Pediatric physical therapists (U.S. & South Africa)

  • Occupational or rehabilitation therapists and their assistants

  • Clinicians working with children with low tone, motor delays, Down Syndrome, prematurity, or scoliosis

  • Educators integrating pediatric functional assessment


📚 Resources & Extras

  • DRA tape instruction handouts

  • Case studies 

  • Ultrasound imaging examples of linea alba and diastasis

  • CEU certificates tailored to U.S. PT and South African accreditation formats

  • Lifetime access with continuing updates as research evolves

 

Why Choose This Unified Program?

  • Evidence‑based & clinically grounded: Esther’s research‑informed approach integrates pediatric insights with motor development theory.

  • Developer of the Skin Approach to Taping: Innovative application of neurosensory methods for clinical reasoning. 

  • CEU recognition: Earn credentialed credits valid in both the U.S. and South Africa.

  • Customizable learning: Combines conceptual understanding, hands‑on method, and flexible pacing for busy clinicians.


Enroll now to gain comprehensive expertise in assessing and treating children with congenital diastasis rectus abdominis—elevate your confidence, clinical outcomes, and care impact internationally.

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The instructors
Esther de Ru
PT, OMT, PPT

Esther de Ru is a physiotherapist from the Netherlands whose passion and energy for all things related to pediatrics is stunning. Maybe best known for her work in elastic therapeutic taping, she is keenly interested in skin, our outer brain, using skin stretch and massage to enhance movement and address dysfunction. Her other passion is scoliosis management. She is certified in NDT Bobath, NDT/Mueller, pre-logopedia, Vojta, Sports, Orthopedic Manual Therapy, P.N.F., Bugnet, Sensory Motor Therapy & Motor Remedial Teaching. She developed the Skin Approach to Taping method and she has published on this topic.

As past chair of the Committee Practice of the IOPTP (International Organisation of Physical Therapists in Paediatrics) and international instructor and author, Esther emphasizes the need to work very hands-on in our profession.

Semi-retired, Esther travelled the world teaching and sharing her knowledge as a true clinician who values not only the evidence base, but the patient's experience and the intuitive wisdom that comes with real work in the real world. She has gained her experience working in four European countries. She is a respected international speaker, and provides mentoring to therapists world wide through the Clinical Excellence Online CEO WiredOn program.

Material included in this course
  • Congenital Diastasis Rectus Abdominis 1 - Anatomy & Function
  • Part 1 - References, and Resources
  • Introduction
  • Anterior Abdominal Wall Muscles and the Abdominal Aponeurosis
  • Axial Muscles: Part 3 Thoracic and Abdominal
  • Linea Alba and Childhood Development
  • Defining Diastasis
  • Testing
  • Interesting Research
  • Esther's Exercise Program
  • Case Studies
  • Conclusion and Questions
  • Part 1 - Anatomy & Function: Quiz
  • Part 1 - Anatomy & Function: Feedback
  • Congenital Diastasis Rectus Abdominis 2 - Treatment Possibilities
  • Part 2 - References, and Resources
  • Introduction
  • Research about People with Acquired DRA
  • Are Outcome Consensus, Statements and Guidelines for Acquired DRA Relevant?
  • Outcome Polls, Flags and the Signs and Symptoms
  • Introducing Various European Methods; Content and Reasoning
  • Classifying & Assessing (Observe, Palpate, Test) & Explaining the Role of Tape
  • Case Examples: Clinical Reasoning, Goals and Treatment
  • Reflecting on my cRDA Journey so Far
  • Questions and Feedback
  • Responding to Your Feedback
  • Part 2 - Treatment Possibilities: Quiz
  • Part 2 - Treatment Possibilities: Feedback
  • Part 3 - Assessing and Treating with Tape
  • Part 3 - References, and Resources
  • Introduction
  • Elastic Therapeutic Tape: The inventor K. Kase, the product, its properties and the method
  • Tape shapes, techniques, indications- and contraindications.
  • The five Theoretical Models, variation in taping courses and the resulting Babylonian Confusion
  • Skin: Cutaneous nerves, dermatomes and the physiological direction of skin movement
  • Skin care, test-patches, skin stretch, tape stretch, mini-tapes, frequency and duration, taping goals, clinical reasoning
  • Lab: Palpating, classifying, assessing, applying tapes & tape recoil
  • Video presentation of whole assessing, reasoning and taping process
  • Treatment process of young infants and children
  • Responding to Your Feedback
  • Part 3 - Assessing and Treating with Tape: Quiz
  • Part 3 - Assessing and Treating with Tape: Feedback
  • Course Evaluation and Exam
  • Final Exam
  • Course evaluation
FAQs

Yes, our organization is an approved provider of continuing education for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants in California (CA) by Redefine Health Education, a recognized approval agency of the Physical Therapy Board of CA.

Courses approved by other state boards in the following jurisdictions are likely accepted for licensure credit based on the state regulation:

AL | AK | AR | CO | CT | DE | GA | HI | ID | IN | IA | KS | KY | ME | MA | MI | MO | MT | NE | NH | NC | ND | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | UT | VT | VA | VI | WA | WI | WY

Please reach out to your state licensing board to confirm the currency and accuracy of this information. If you have a specific question about CEU approval for this course in your state, please direct your inquiry to info@redefinehealthed.com.

The following states are not pre-approved:  AZ*, DC, FL*, LA, IL*, MD, MN, MS*, NM*, NV, NY, NJ, OH, OK*, TX, WV

*CE applications pending

Participants licensed in states not pre-approved may file for individual approval using the instructions on this document.

Once you have completed the course, a certificate of completion (including learning hours and course information) will be generated. You can download this certificate at any time. To learn more about course certificates on Embodia please visit this guide.

This can be used for continuing education credits, depending on your professional college or association. If this course has been approved for CEUs in specific jurisdictions, it will be noted on the course page and CEU information may be added to your course certificate. Please read this guide for more information.

This course has been approved for 8.25 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants in the US. Please see the FAQ 'Has this course been approved for CEUs (Continuing Education Units) for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants in the US?' for a detailed list of the approved states. In order for your US jurisdiction information to appear on your course certificate, you must complete your jurisdiction information on your Embodia profile as per this guide.

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