Running During Pregnancy and Postpartum, Part B: How Does Running-Related Advice and Guidance Received During Pregnancy and Postpartum Affect Women's Running Habits?

Abstract

Background: Women are unsure about the suitability and safety of running when pregnant and postpartum, with advice from medical professionals often conflicting. Aim: To explore the exercise and running-related advice pregnant and postpartum women received and the impact it has on their running habits. Study Design: Observational, cross-sectional. Methods: A total of 883 postpartum women completed an online survey. Questions were developed using pregnancy exercise guidance and clinical postpartum running guidelines. Odds ratios (ORs) were used to assess associations between receiving prenatal advice and receiving postpartum advice, receiving prenatal advice and continuing to run through pregnancy and return-to-running postpartum and receiving broadly sourced running-related guidance. Results: Postpartum women who received prenatal exercise advice and broadly sourced postpartum running advice were 37% and 31%, respectively. Those who received prenatal advice were more likely to receive postpartum advice (OR: 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33-2.38). Receiving exercise-related advice was not associated with continuing to run during pregnancy (OR: 1.17, CI: 0.89-1.54). Having returned to running postpartum was associated with receiving broadly sourced postpartum running-related guidance (OR: 2.19, CI: 1.45-3.32). Women who were aware of the return-to-running clinical guidelines took longer to return-to-running than those who were not aware [14 (10-20) vs 10 (6-16.5) weeks, respectively, U = 34 889, P < .001]. Conclusion: Exercise and running guidance was only provided to a small proportion of women. To influence exercise habits and return-to-running, guidance needs to be individualized and specific to the needs of perinatal women.

Clinical and exercise professional opinion of return-to-running readiness after childbirth: an international Delphi study and consensus statement

“…The definition of ‘postpartum’ also varies, focusing on length of time since giving birth (eg, 12 weeks to 2 years) 36–38. The consensus that ‘postpartum’ does not refer to only the first 12 weeks after childbirth is supported by several studies using time frames >12 weeks to define their postpartum population7–9 11 12 38–43 and by evidence that postpartum mental health symptoms can still be present up to 3 years postpartum 44. The inconsistencies in the literature of how long the postpartum phase persists appear to be reflected in several time frames being identified by respondents in free-text responses and inability to reach consensus on one specific time frame.…”

“…The perinatal period is one such transition that profoundly affects a female’s physiology and biomechanics, with lasting implications that may challenge future exercise participation 4–6. Running is a popular form of exercise for the perinatal population,7–10 but a recent study reported only 31% of pregnant or postpartum runners received advice on returning to running after childbirth 11. As a result, runners often self-determine how to continue running during and after pregnancy, and approximately 46% of runners stop running during pregnancy and 25% do not return-to-running after childbirth 12.…”

Navigating the ‘new normal’: what guidelines exist for postpartum return to physical activity and sport? A scoping review

“…Another study identified that only 31% of women received broad postpartum running advice, and those that received advice were more likely to return to running. In addition, women who were made aware of return to running guidelines took longer to return to running than those who were unaware, potentially due to an increased awareness of postpartum recovery 64. Therefore, clinicians play a crucial role in encouraging physical activity in postpartum women, and informed RTA guidelines should be established to help increase a safe and equitable opportunity to return to physical activity.…”

Sports Medicine and the Pelvic Floor

“…In addition, traditional return-to-sport frameworks lack female specific considerations and the inclusion of pelvic floor specialists (e.g., gynecologists or pelvic health physical therapists) within the multidisciplinary team (17). Yet, the call for recognition of PFM related symptoms within sports medicine has been established for more than a decade (8,(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). In recent years, however, there has been greater recognition that symptoms of PFD such as pain, incontinence, or pelvic organ prolapse, negatively influence sports performance and ability to train (1,26,27).…”