Elsevier

Physical Therapy in Sport

Volume 21, September 2016, Pages 95-106
Physical Therapy in Sport

Original research
The postpartum triathlete

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2016.07.006Get rights and content

Abstract

The postpartum period in a woman's life is filled with numerous changes, including physical changes, changes in sleep habits, and learning how to best care for a newborn. A common goal among postpartum women is to either begin or resume an active lifestyle, which often includes physical activity such as running, biking and swimming. The postpartum athlete may discover barriers that prevent her from returning to or beginning an exercise routine. These obstacles include muscle weakness, fatigue, depression and physical changes that require exercise modification. The physical therapist is well-suited to properly assess, treat and manage the care of the postpartum athlete. Postpartum athletes wishing to begin or resume training for triathlons require special consideration, as the triathlete must balance training to compete in three different sports.

The purpose of the paper is to identify the unique physical and physiological changes that occur to the female during the postpartum period. In addition, injuries that are more commonly seen during the postpartum period will be discussed. Recommendations for beginning or resuming an exercise program will be reviewed. Lastly, sport-specific training for the postpartum triathlete, including challenges presented with each triathlon component, will be discussed.

Section snippets

Overview

The postpartum period is one of the most exciting, yet exhausting phases in a women's life. The excitement of motherhood is confounded by physical changes, a lack of sleep, and the uncertainty that comes with caring for a newborn. Exercise is a simple intervention that can enhance sleep, improve physical well-being and decrease stress(Lopresti, Hood, & Drummond, 2013). However, the postpartum athlete may discover barriers that prevent her from returning to exercise and sport, including muscle

Postpartum defined

Defining the actual timeline that is considered “postpartum” proves to be challenging. The American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG, 2016a, ACOG, 2016b) suggests that 6–8 weeks is commonly considered the postpartum period, as it typically takes this long for the genital organs to return to their original size and function. In the musculoskeletal literature, 3 months is commonly reported as the postpartum period(Robinson et al., 2010, Ronchetti et al., 2008). However, authors have

Physical and physiological differences (compared to prepregnancy)

Numerous differences, both physical and physiological, exist in the postpartum triathlete as compared to prepregnancy. Physiological changes include excessive fatigue and postpartum depression. Physical changes observed postpartum include low back pain and pelvic pain, tendinopathies, stress fractures, and incontinence. In addition, the physical therapist needs to be aware of the effects of exercise on breastfeeding in order to properly educate the triathlete.

The purpose of this section is to

Management of the postpartum triathlete

Exercise during the postpartum period should provide a mental break from childcare and prove to be a relaxing and enjoyable time. However, postpartum athletes face an uphill battle against poor body image, postpartum fatigue and/or depression, LBP, PGP, UI and core weakness. Most women are able to resume activities quickly after delivery without difficulty. However, return to sport or activity must be considered on an individual basis. Factors such as the type of delivery, number of

Conclusion

The postpartum period is a time of excitement layered with changes. The triathlete is experiencing many lifestyle changes as well as physical and physiological changes. The clinician must be aware of these changes, including postpartum fatigue, depression and postpartum pelvic and low back pain. Resumption of sport or activity must occur on an individual basis, and should consider the athlete's pregnancy history, as well as birth and breastfeeding history. The athlete must be examined and

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest or financial disclosure to report.

Role of funding source

The authors have no conflict of interest or financial disclosure to report.

Acknowledgements

None.

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