Female Athlete Health Part 2: Special Populations, Pregnancy, and Postpartum (AT)

Course overview

Building on the foundation of Part 1, this second installment of the series focuses on the unique needs of specialty populations of female athletes. Attendees will gain clinically useful strategies for supporting tactical/occupational athletes, flexibility athletes, adaptive sports participants, and those navigating pregnancy and postpartum. With emphasis on Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), rehabilitation, and safe return to exercise, participants will expand their skillset to address the diverse challenges female athletes face across the lifespan. Sessions in Part 2: Specific Populations of Female Athletes: Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) Female athletes, particularly those in tactical/occupational roles, flexibility sports (such as gymnastics and dance), and adaptive sports face unique physiological and psychological challenges that increase their risk for the female athlete triad and relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs). Despite growing awareness, a significant practice gap remains in the clinical understanding and management of REDs within these specialty populations. This presentation addresses this gap by equipping practitioners with clinically relevant knowledge on the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of REDs. It introduces the IOC REDs CAT2 assessment tool and outlines evidence-based screening, prevention, and treatment strategies tailored to diverse female athlete groups, including flexibility athletes, tactical/occupational athletes, and female athletes participating in adaptive sports. The session is designed for sports medicine professionals, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and clinicians working in military, occupational, and performance sport settings. By the end of the presentation, attendees will be able to identify REDs indicators, apply assessment tools, and implement multidisciplinary care plans to optimize health and performance outcomes in these specialty populations of female athletes Pregnancy and Postpartum Exercise: An Evidence-Based Approach In recent years, many elite athletes have openly shared their perinatal journeys, and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games featured several mothers competing at the highest level-highlighting that returning to elite sport after pregnancy is possible. Although early research in this area was limited, the past decade has seen a growing body of evidence on exercise during and after pregnancy. At the same time, social media has fueled misconceptions and fear around perinatal exercise, with some movements inaccurately labeled as harmful to the musculoskeletal system. This webinar will review current evidence-based recommendations for exercise during pregnancy, outline safe and effective parameters for training, and provide practical guidelines for return to sport in the postpartum period. Common myths will be addressed, and participants will gain a clear, comprehensive framework for supporting pregnant and postpartum individuals in both exercise and athletic performance.