Postpartum guidelines for recreational athletes
Recent updates to exercise guidelines now include recreational athletes during pregnancy and postpartum, but guidance on safe training is limited. A study of recreational active women who followed a rehabilitation program focused on core and pelvic floor strength showed significant improvements in pain, urinary dysfunction, and pelvic floor strength, showing the benefits of physical therapy…
The bounce-back illusion: Why real postpartum bodies deserve the spotlight
Let’s begin with a familiar image. A woman, newly postpartum, stands in her living room. Her baby is nestled in a sling across her chest, and she’s attempting something between a squat and a stretch while simultaneously rescuing a plush giraffe from under the couch. She is not wearing Lululemon. She has not “bounced back.”…
Pregnancy and (a lack of) sport research
Pregnant women have unique health considerations, but they’re significantly underrepresented in sport research. As a result, we’re faced with severe knowledge gaps concerning female-specific cardiovascular physiology and sports performance. Researchers are calling for more inclusive research and sex-specific guidelines to better inform the training and participation policies of pregnant women.
Fast as a mother: Elite runners’ training during pregnancy and postpartum
Keeping active during pregnancy and postpartum is so important for a whole host of reasons and, fortunately, there’s no shortage of advice out there on how to do so. Generally speaking, for those without any health issues during pregnancy, most international health guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. This means movement…
Pregnancy and (a lack of) sport research
Pregnant women have unique health considerations, but they’re significantly underrepresented in sport research. As a result, we’re faced with severe knowledge gaps concerning female-specific cardiovascular physiology and sports performance. Researchers are calling for more inclusive research and sex-specific guidelines to better inform the training and participation policies of pregnant women.
The importance of the pelvic floor in returning to physical activity after childbirth
After childbirth, mothers have numerous concerns about their postpartum body and its capacity for returning to physical activity. One of the worries is whether physical activity may negatively affect the pelvic floor after pregnancy and delivery. The pelvic floor is a crucial group of muscles that helps maintain bladder and bowel control, support internal organs,…
From one mom to another: Tips for being active after welcoming a new baby
Becoming a mother is an exciting milestone in a woman’s life. Once you welcome home a baby, nothing is ever the same again. While the transition to motherhood comes with many ups and downs, engaging in physical activity is a great way for new moms to protect their physical and mental health. For more information,…
Returning to exercise postpartum: Supporting women’s physical activity after the birth of a child
This article was originally published by The Conversation on March 20, 2022 The birth of a child is a momentous occasion in a woman’s life. It may also be one of the most challenging transitions that women face, requiring adaptation to identity and role while undergoing a unique physiological transformation. Physical activity after recovery from birth…
Moving women forward: A guide to becoming physically active after childbirth
The postpartum transition (from childbirth to one-year postpartum) is among the most challenging identity shifts a woman faces. She’s navigating mental and physical health changes, while caring for an infant (Deave et al., 2008). Despite knowing this challenge exists, women have limited supports available to assist with their postpartum transition. That leaves many women disoriented…
Mom’s Got Game! Stories of world-class athletes and gold-medal moms
Fourteen months ahead of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, curler Jennifer Jones had a nasty accident, tearing a major ligament, the ACL in her knee. She was pregnant with her first child and hoping to represent Canada at the Olympics. “Because I was pregnant, a lot of people never thought that I would be able to…