The 4th Trimester: Bridging the Gap between function and fitness

Course overview

The female athlete undergoes significant musculoskeletal changes both during pregnancy and postpartum. However, most postpartum care focuses on aspects of the baby's health, leaving women cleared to exercise at their 6-week appointment with no proper guidance on returning to sport. Taking into consideration the limited interaction with health care and the multitude of prevalent issues that may occur, including but not limited to pelvic/low back pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, difficulties with returning to sports/fitness and general physical and emotional recovery, there is a potential to be setting up these women for long lasting negative health effects. With proper understanding of the 3 phases of returning to sport and the criteria to progress through each, we can help to bridge this gap and help to set these women up for success in their athletic endeavors.