Original researchThe postpartum triathlete
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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