Maximizing Recovery in the Postpartum Period: A Timeline for Rehabilitation from Pregnancy through Return to Sport

Abstract

Increased participation and duration in sport has become commonplace for women with their involvement often including the transition to motherhood in the peak of their athletic careers. No rehabilitation models that assess the full spectrum of pregnancy to postpartum have been developed for women to assist in safe exercise progressions that reduce postpartum symptoms and optimize performance during the return to full activity. Referral to physical therapy both in the prenatal and postnatal period is currently not considered standard of care to reduce prevalence of symptoms such as musculoskeletal pain, diastasis recti, and pelvic floor dysfunction which may ultimately interfere with physical activity and performance. This commentary presents a timeline and suggested progression for exercise participation to improve awareness of the musculoskeletal changes that occur after labor and delivery. The concepts covered may increase the understanding of how to manage pregnant and postpartum athletes from a musculoskeletal perspective and serve as a starting point for establishing appropriate and guided rehabilitation for safe return to sport after childbirth.

INTRODUCTION

Musculoskeletal parameters in pregnancy and postpartum care have been an area of much debate and scrutiny, with continuous changes in these recommendations being inconsistent at best and conflicting at worst. The ability to stay active during and after pregnancy provides significant physiological benefits, regardless of prior training status.^1–5 From a medical perspective, physical activity during pregnancy decreases risk of developing conditions such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, hypertension, depression, and both prenatal and postpartum incontinence.¹ Physical activity also been shown to not increase the likelihood of adverse outcomes including low birth weight, miscarriage, or perinatal mortality.¹ Despite the known benefits of physical activity in this population, there is little guidance on how to safely progress programming during pregnancy or how to return to sport performance postpartum.^6,7 The six-week postpartum check is largely agreed upon as a point where medical clearance to return to normal activity occurs – however, it is becoming more clear that appropriate musculoskeletal interventions could safely begin in the immediate postpartum period. Discussions with the mother surrounding what types of exercise are safe to perform and what symptoms are normal/abnormal are not commonly included at this time, and musculoskeletal exams are rarely performed despite pregnancy and delivery being both medical and musculoskeletal events.^8,9 Delaying guided rehabilitation until the six-week postpartum mark may compromise safe return to activity as many women work to navigate this phase independently. Currently, no peer-reviewed return to sport protocols for postpartum women exist despite the fact that 75% of postpartum runners return to running within eight weeks after delivery.¹⁰ Thus, women may be missing the benefit of guided rehabilitation and targeted exercise in a time frame where they can minimize postpartum symptoms and adequately prepare for return to sport.

Peak athletic performance has been shown to coincide with the predicted peak fertility years.¹ As such, female athletes frequently sustain careers spanning these years, which often includes managing the physical transition from pregnancy to motherhood. Prevalent postpartum conditions including musculoskeletal pain, urinary incontinence, abdominal separation, and pelvic organ prolapse are factors that may limit physical performance and safe return to sport.¹¹ Christopher et al. and de Mattos Lourenco et al. have found that more than one-third of postpartum runners experience pain upon their return as well as some form of urinary incontinence.^10,12 While these symptoms may be present prior to or immediately upon return to activity, they may also demonstrate a delayed onset over time, as return to exercise may not consider the potential for dysfunctional pelvic floor and/or abdominal musculature. In addition, postpartum symptoms such as urinary incontinence or hip and knee pain appearing with return to activity may be dismissed as “normal”, potentially leading to continued deferral of treatment until the athlete is often several years postpartum. The lack of distinction between common versus normal symptoms in the first three months postpartum often delays appropriate management despite evidence that physical therapy can be beneficial in preventing and resolving these symptoms.^13–15

Exercise guidance through the postpartum period is warranted for athletes to return to full activity safely and effectively. This clinical commentary proposes and outlines guidelines to encourage recreational and other elite athletes to engage in early physical activity in a progressive manner. Safe return to sport guidelines would allow women to address the facets of the musculoskeletal system that have been affected by pregnancy and return to sport and impact activity safely, using the first six weeks to their advantage.

Adaptations to pregnancy and postpartum

A wide variety of physiologic changes occur during pregnancy, which often can be managed with thorough musculoskeletal assessment and intervention. Weight gain, ligamentous laxity, postural changes, and center of gravity changes that occur during pregnancy all require different demands on strength, endurance, and postural control. The abdominal musculature is stretched to 115% of its resting length by 38 weeks of pregnancy.¹⁶ Cardiac output increases by 30-50%, (driven by increasing heart rate and stroke volume) by mid-pregnancy, along with a 10-20% increase in baseline oxygen consumption. Together, these cardiovascular alterations result in decreased available oxygen for aerobic activity.^17,18 Pregnant athletes are often still anecdotally encouraged to stay below a target heart rate (formerly recommended as <140 bpm) and avoid lifting more than 25 pounds, conflicting with the more recent evidence that indicates these heart rate monitoring and absolute limits on weight lifting are no longer appropriate restrictions for low risk pregnancies.^4,5

During labor and delivery, pelvic floor musculature is stretched to 250% of its resting length during delivery.⁹ Recovery of the pelvic floor muscles (levator ani and associated connective tissue) is thought to be maximized by four to six months postnatal, although unrestricted clearance to activity is typically obtained well before this point.⁹ Bladder neck mobility postpartum remains higher than when measured at 37 weeks gestation and can require increased musculoskeletal support to limit symptoms such as incontinence.¹⁹ With cesarean section delivery, uterine scar thickness is still increased at the six-week postnatal point indicating continued remodeling despite the fact that many women are told that they may begin unrestricted activity at this point, and notable pelvic floor dysfunction including weakness or difficulty with coordination may also still be present associated with the pressure of the growing uterus throughout pregnancy.²⁰

“Core canister” health and dysfunction

Pregnant and postpartum women may have limited education on their own bodies and the musculoskeletal adaptations that occur. They may also not realize that many of the symptoms that they may experience in pregnancy and postpartum are common but not normal. In the United States, pelvic floor rehabilitation is not currently recommended for women as a standard of care requiring many to self-advocate for such treatment. Prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction (urinary stress incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse, and fecal or anal incontinence) is high, with over one in four women experiencing at least one of these conditions.²¹ The presence of incontinence during pregnancy may be indicative of the presence of incontinence in postpartum. Those who have persistent incontinence at three months postpartum have a significantly greater likelihood of continued incontinence at the five-year postpartum mark compared to the general population.²² Postpartum urinary incontinence creates a barrier to exercise, and may limit athletes from completing their desired sport or exercise program.¹³ The total number of women including female athletes who will undergo surgery for correction of pelvic organ prolapse alone is expected to increase by ~48% over the next four decades.²³ Despite many of the commonly experienced signs and symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction being improved or prevented with rehabilitation, there is little discussion of a guided protocol to limit the likelihood of onset such dysfunction during pregnancy and postpartum.^19,24–27

As would be expected, given the duration and intensity of change imparted upon the pelvic floor musculature, followed by the largely musculoskeletal event of labor and delivery, the pelvic floor muscles are typically dysfunctional postpartum with regard to strength, motor control, and endurance.⁹ For many women who were unaware of how to utilize pelvic floor muscles appropriately prior to delivery or for women who have had multiple babies without adequate rehabilitation and recovery, there may be significant dysfunction in attempts to self-train these muscles.² Recommendations for musculoskeletal intervention postpartum vary from no activity until medical consult to full clearance to self-guided exercise at six weeks, suggesting discussions of varying types of delivery and tearing or injury may not be included when assessing return to activity/sport.²⁵ When prescribed appropriately, performance of deep core exercises during pregnancy results in significantly fewer incontinence symptoms during late pregnancy and the postpartum period.⁸

Demands of returning to sport

Running is a specialized skill requiring very specific muscular endurance and strength demands. While it is common to use physical therapy to restore running mechanics in the post-operative and post-injury populations, the use of physical therapy in postpartum women looking to safely return to running is less commonly utilized. Optimizing postnatal recovery is a critical factor given the pregnant and postpartum musculoskeletal changes that occur as physical therapist’s accommodate these athletes and their desire to return to previous levels of activity.

There is considerable demand on the pelvic floor musculature during a task such as running. High impact activities are associated with a sudden rise in intra-abdominal pressure as well as ground reaction forces of 1.6-2.5x bodyweight.^28,29 Given the structure and location of the pelvis as a force transmission site from the lower to the upper body, it is expected that the attaching musculature would be required to quickly contract and relax repeatedly throughout a task such as running. If the pelvic floor musculature is unable to contract and relax on demand in a supervised setting such as pelvic floor rehabilitation, it would be expected that the ability to perform that role during an often subconscious task such as running would be diminished and as such could result in potential activity-related dysfunction associated with that lack of ability including incontinence and prolapse.²⁸

High impact exercise has been found to increase risk of pelvic floor dysfunction nearly five-fold as compared to low impact exercise, further warranting additional healing time prior to resuming high impact tasks.¹² Just as physical therapists typically defer return to running in post-operative cases where notable anatomical healing must occur, perhaps physical therapists should also advocate for a return to running protocol that corresponds both to a time and criterion-based approach in the postpartum phase.²⁵ A recommendation of this nature was initially made by Goom and colleagues,² who advised that return to running be considered at or around the three months postpartum period. Based on the baseline demands of running as a power, endurance, and strength movement, the aim of the following recommendations is to restore asymptomatic tolerance for return to running. For most athletes, clearance for return to running readies them to participate in a more sport-specific training program as desired.

REHABILITATION TIMELINE RECOMMENDATIONS

In the absence of absolute or relative contraindications, pregnant women should be encouraged to participate in a regular, moderate intensity exercise program supported by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as well as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines.^5,30 General physicians have self-reported that they do not typically feel that they have adequate training in postpartum exercise prescription, and variations in regards to anecdotal recommendations are common.³¹ From a physical therapy perspective, Table 1 outlines a rehabilitation timeline with suggested goals and criterion for exercise participation to encourage a timely and safe full return to sport. As with any protocol, parameters may be adjusted to some extent depending on the individual, but these are best adjusted under the guidance of an appropriately trained professional.³² Such professionals should be well versed in the warning signs during exercise as well as contraindications to exercise when working with pregnant and postpartum clients.^5,31

Table 1. Goals for Prenatal and Postnatal Performance.^5,31,34.

Stage	Goals	Example Criterion
First Trimester	Discuss musculoskeletal changes Discuss physiological changes associated with pregnancy Introduce transverse abdominis control in association with proper diaphragmatic breathing Instruction in Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Establish guidelines and develop exercise prescription Discuss warning signs and contraindications for exercise during pregnancy	Medical clearance for exercise Independence in RPE ratings Ability to appropriately contract and relax transverse abdominis without breath holding
Second Trimester	Encourage safe exercise and mobility Develop postural strength and endurance Review warning signs and contraindications for exercise during pregnancy	Medical clearance for exercise Awareness and independence of appropriate standing and sitting postures
Third Trimester	Improve coordination in relaxation of the pelvic floor musculature to allow for delivery while maintaining adequate facilitation for continence Continue focus on postural strength and endurance Education regarding potential birth positions as desired	Medical clearance for exercise Ability to contract and relax pelvic floor musculature without breath holding Awareness of options regarding birthing positions both with and without epidural intervention
Postpartum Weeks 0-2	Encourage safe and appropriate movement to facilitate healing Limit subjective pain levels associated with the expected decrease in activity after delivery Instruct and incorporate proper body mechanics for handling of newborn	Anterior/posterior pelvic tilting to assist with postural restoration Appropriate performance of diaphragmatic breath Light standing open kinematic chain (OKC) movements to mimic walking
Postpartum Weeks 3-4	Slowly improve coordination with pelvic floor and transverse abdominis musculature in association with proper diaphragmatic breathing Initiate a short duration (<15 minutes) walking program with frequency increasing as desired with increasing frequency and duration as tolerated	Transversus abdominis sets – 20x5s holds in supine, side-lying, and quadruped Bridges – double leg 30x5s 10 minutes of asymptomatic walking Pelvic floor contract/relax – short holds (<5s)
Postpartum Weeks 5-6	Increase walking program duration (<30 minutes) so long as symptoms are not noted during or after performance Incorporate functional movements required of the athlete for activities of daily living	Muscular endurance tasks i.e. repetitions of 15-30 with weights <10 lbs (baby can often be used as “weight” for functional performance) Pelvic floor contract/relax – long holds (10s) Clamshells, reverse clamshells, standing march/hip abduction/hip extension, quadruped fire hydrants/donkey kicks, sit to stand, double leg calf raises, 4-way straight leg raise
Postpartum Weeks 7-⁠12	Discuss medical clearance and differences in medical and musculoskeletal clearance for exercise Integrate strength, endurance, and power training to prepare for high impact exercise Potentially include impact exercise (8-10 week mark)	Muscular strength tasks i.e. repetitions of 8-12 with weights as tolerated Squats, single leg sit to stand, mountain climbers (to table), single leg calf raise, step ups 30 minutes asymptomatic walking
Postpartum Weeks 13+	Return to full activity including running/sport Running-specific medical interview to assist with prescription of individualized running plan35	Exercises completed with a metronome consistent with desired athlete cadence 60s of symptom free performance - single leg calf raise, single leg hop down from step, single leg hopping, jump in place, wall sit, plank hold

Each phase of the following protocol should ideally be monitored by a pelvic health physical therapist who can best make determinations on readiness to progress to the next phase and ensure that the pelvic floor muscles are contracting and relaxing correctly. Working with trained individuals in the area of pelvic health may also help to reduce fear avoidance behaviors and increase compliance during the pregnancy period.³³ Understanding that high-impact tasks like running are necessary and appropriate for maximizing performance allows increased focus on safe movement with core and pelvic floor control, posture, and mobility.

Table 2. Musculoskeletal Protocol for Pregnancy through Return to Sport.^7,31,34,36.

Stage	Focus	Recommendations
First Trimester	Cardiovascular activity	Light-moderate activities kept at a conversational pace (RPE 1-4), occasional bursts of RPE range 5-7 (<10 minutes) Modify interventions based on daily symptoms 150 minutes of moderate activity each week over a minimum of 3 days/week but preferred daily Variety of physical activities to include aerobic, strength training, and mobility work Awareness of appropriate warm up and cool down (5-10 minutes of gentle activity prior to and after completion of exercise routine)
	Neuromuscular activity	Education on diastasis recti Eliminate and/or modify exercises creating coning Coordination of diaphragmatic breathing (exhale with pelvic floor contraction, inhale with pelvic floor relaxation)
	Strength Training	At least 2 days of resistance training/week with selection of desired exercises by the individual patient and provider within surrounding limitations. Strength training should incorporate full body focus
	Pelvic floor	Internal muscle exam typically deferred
	Modifications for this phase	Work around varying symptoms including fatigue, nausea, and discomfort
Second Trimester	Cardiovascular activity	Light-moderate activities kept at a conversational pace (RPE 1-4), occasional bursts of RPE range 5-7 (<10 minutes) Running may continue but athlete should consider more interval training to assist with musculoskeletal demand of the pelvic floor as baby grows Cross training (biking, swimming) should be encouraged
	Neuromuscular activity	Same as first trimester with continued focus on appropriate loading of transversus abdominis, linea alba
	Pelvic Floor	If agreed upon with the athlete’s medical providers, internal muscle exam may be performed if desired by patient to determine baseline pelvic floor function and address range of motion and strength/endurance deficits External muscle exam may also be performed to limit risk of infection associated with internal muscle examination
	Strength Training	At least 2 days of resistance training/week with selection of desired exercises by the individual patient and provider within surrounding limitations. Strength training should incorporate full body focus
	Modifications for this phase	Heavier focus on anti- core movements to encourage stability Eliminate/modify tasks that require power movement of barbell over abdomen Limit/modify supine activity if patient is symptomatic
Third Trimester	Cardiovascular activity	Light-moderate activities kept at a conversational pace (RPE 1-4) Running may continue but athlete should consider more interval training and more frequent rest to assist with musculoskeletal demand of the pelvic floor as baby grows Heavier focus on cross training (biking, swimming) should be encouraged as opposed to running
	Neuromuscular activity	Increase focus on down-training techniques to assist with delivery Increase focus on postural endurance as center of gravity shifts forward
	Strength Training	At least 2 days of resistance training/week with selection of desired exercises by the individual patient and provider within surrounding limitations. Strength training should incorporate full body focus
	Pelvic Floor	Perineal massage may be discussed to begin around 34 weeks gestation Discussion of appropriate birthing positions for pelvic mobility and opening of pelvic outlet Heavy focus on down-training/relaxation of pelvic floor musculature and breath techniques to assist with delivery
	Modifications for this phase	All previous modifications maintained Impact work (jump/run) may be continued if asymptomatic for short bouts and increased rest time
Postpartum Weeks 0-2	Cardiovascular activity	Minimize musculoskeletal stress to allow healing Household ambulation in small bouts Education related to nutrition (within scope of the provider) to ensure appropriate intake to accommodate for nursing and exercise
	Neuromuscular activity	Diaphragmatic breathing, pelvic mobility as tolerated Gentle and pain free mobility/postural work Education regarding proper body mechanics for handling of newborn infant i.e. lifting, carrying, and holding
	Pelvic Floor	Light transverse abdominis/pelvic floor contract/relax – defer if symptomatic
Postpartum Weeks 3-4	Cardiovascular activity	Walking program with shorter duration (<10-15 minutes), frequency may increase as tolerated
	Neuromuscular activity	Increase focus on transversus abdominis coordination – supine, side-lying, and quadruped
	Pelvic Floor	Pelvic floor contract/relax with focus on short holds (5 seconds) Continue to defer if symptomatic
Postpartum Weeks 5-6	Cardiovascular activity	Walking program may slowly increase in duration (<20-30 minutes) Speed may gradually increase, but should be kept below jogging
	Neuromuscular activity	Postural strength and endurance to include thoracic and cervical spine Coordination of transversus abdominis in more functional movements such as sitting/standing
	Pelvic Floor/Strength	Open kinetic chain hip strength in combination with appropriate pelvic floor contract/relax Pelvic floor contract/relax with focus on long holds (10 seconds) Light functional movements (sit to stand, step ups)
Postpartum Weeks 7-⁠12	Cardiovascular activity	Slow increase in duration of walking program with gradual speed increases Short <60s bouts of jogging may be appropriate at the 8 week or beyond mark (dependent on response to impact readiness tasks) Recovery intervals should be 2x that of work phase in jogging (ie 60s jog:120s recovery) Work phases should be kept conversational with RPE <6
	Neuromuscular activity	Awareness/improvement of postural changes that often persist postpartum Thoracic rotation/extension, improving excessive pelvic tilting (anterior or posterior) should be addressed Horizontal impact work (ie table plank position – mountain climbers) may be slowly progressed to begin force absorption focus until patient is ready to tolerate this in an upright position
	Pelvic Floor	Internal muscle exam performed if desired by patient to determine baseline function Focus should be both on appropriate contract/relax as well as strength/endurance to determine individual need for up vs. down-training
	Strength	Closed kinetic strength tasks beginning with slow performance and increasing speed of movement as tolerated Progression from double to single leg weight bearing tasks
	Impact-Specific Markers for Readiness for Progression	Double leg jump downs, heel raises with bounce, forward/lateral/reverse lunging performed rapidly, kettle bell swing variations to include the sagittal, transverse, and frontal planes
	Functional Testing Options	Musculoskeletal pain or pelvic symptoms with loading and impact25 Run Readiness Scale36
Postpartum Weeks 13+	Cardiovascular activity	Slow increase in mileage and speed with walking/jogging/rest throughout run as needed 2D running assessment may be performed to limit likelihood of injury
	Strength/Power	Impact work may be better tolerated from a pelvic floor perspective on an incline Incline may be slowly lowered until tolerating impact performance on flat surface Full clearance for return to running/sport should be assessed weekly as training volume increases per ACSM guidelines (2-10%/week)

First to third trimester

Initially, cardiovascular activity should be kept at a conversational pace, but is no longer limited to the 140 beats per minute metric.⁷ When a patient is self-assessing intensity, clinicians should discuss how to use the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) modified scale (0-10), aiming for between 1-4 for light to moderate.²² Occasional higher intensity cardiovascular tasks may be completed for short time periods, but time spent exceeding the RPE ranges of 5-7 should be limited due to the added pressure on the pelvic floor muscles as a fetus develops. Exercises may include running, stationary biking, low impact aerobics, step aerobics, swimming, or walking may be encouraged, which may vary day to day with specific symptoms of the mother.^5,31 Contact sports, activities that increase likelihood of falls (horseback riding, cycling, downhill skiing, etc.), scuba diving, and/or hot yoga should be avoided.^1,2,36 Incorporation of rest periods throughout cardiovascular effort (walking, stopping, stretching, etc.) should be considered to reflect the metabolic needs of the mother as pregnancy progresses.

Risk versus benefit analysis should be performed with continued impact work, as some athletes will be able to continue running and jumping during this phase but should closely monitor symptoms to determine whether this should be modified or eliminated. In similar fashion, running may be continued but duration can be reduced to limit the amount of stress on the pelvic floor and changes to gait with changing posture and growing fetus. Incline jogging/running and interval runs, for example, can be encouraged in bouts to reduce the volume of repetitive impact and assist with maintenance of running if desired. For athletes training for an upcoming race or needing to return quickly to an elite athlete level, continued safe impact work may be warranted and monitored closely. Other forms of cardiorespiratory activity that are lower impact and encourage more full body strength training and could potentially encourage a faster return to running and sport in the postnatal phase.

The importance of transversus abdominis control should be established, and challenging this control in a variety of positions including supine, sitting, and standing is important for function. Coordinating this movement with diaphragmatic breathing is also important as encouraging patients to perform this movement as they exhale can assist with control and pelvic floor coordination. Awareness and modifications around activities that cause coning would indicate limited tension management through the linea alba and as such should be modified until the patient is able to perform appropriately to help load the affected tissue safely. If the athlete is unable to modify this movement without the presence of continuous or repetitive coning, the movement may need to be eliminated to decrease severity of potential diastasis recti (Figure 1). As pregnancy progresses, repeated lumbar flexion movements should be limited and instead focus on stability movements of the core/spine such as anti-rotation, anti-extension, and anti-rotation drills with modifications as needed to avoid and manage abnormal tension at the linea alba. In the final months of pregnancy, breath work and coordination of pelvic floor relaxation should be focused upon, in order to increase the ability to relax the pelvic floor musculature during both deep inhalation and exhalation to prepare for delivery. Increased focus should be placed on postural endurance and mobility as the center of gravity shifts forward to include thoracic extensors, thoracic rotators, transversus abdominis, internal/external obliques, and hip flexors and extensors.

Figure 1. Normal (A) vs. abnormal/coning (B) management of tension at linea alba with leg lifting in early pregnancy.

Work that includes power movements of a barbell across the abdomen (i.e., snatches) should be modified as posture and bar path change. Movements such as this can be broken down into smaller multi- or single-joint exercises (deadlift, overhead press). Dumbbells may be substituted for bar exercises depending on the need and desires of the individual. Supine work may also be modified on an as needed basis dependent on symptoms such as pallor, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, or generally feeling unwell. Such symptoms may indicate potential compression and can be quickly managed by moving the patient to at least a 30 degree reclined position.³⁷ Positions that require stretching of the pelvic floor stretches such as deep squatting, child’s pose, and hip adductor stretching may be integrated to assist with muscular down-training techniques. Perineal massage techniques can be discussed around the 34-week mark for integration at home. Labor and delivery positions can be discussed in preparation for birth to include quadruped, deep squatting, or side-lying. Options should also be discussed for mothers who prefer to have epidurals as positioning may be more limited but may include side-lying with a peanut ball or rolling a towel around the tailbone/sacrum to allow opening at the pelvic outlet during the push phase.

Internal muscle exam is typically deferred in the first trimester due to the likelihood of miscarriage being highest in the first trimester. While an internal muscle exam is not correlated with any increase in this likelihood, potential association with miscarriage should be avoided if possible. It is also important to note that internal exam may not be necessary for assessment of the pelvic floor muscles as there are external techniques to determine pelvic floor muscle function, and that any addition of internal assessment does increase risk for potential infection. If desired by the athlete being treated by an individual trained in internal muscle examination, internal pelvic floor muscle exam may be completed in second or third trimester to assess baseline function of pelvic floor muscles and address associated deficits. It is important to ensure that this exam is performed in agreeance with the athlete’s medical team in addition to ensuring appropriate informed consent to the athlete.

Postpartum (weeks 0-6)

Immediately postpartum, minimizing excessive musculoskeletal stress is important as healing begins. Household ambulation is encouraged in small bouts as tolerated but should not be an area of great concern. General intensity should remain in the RPE 0-2 ranges to allow for appropriate healing. As comfort increases, a walking program may be initiated with focus on shorter duration performance (<10-15 minutes) and increasing frequency as tolerated. Symptoms should be monitored over the 24-48 hours after completion of these bouts of walking to determine musculoskeletal response prior to increasing frequency as some indicators of pelvic floor dysfunction such as prolapse may be delayed. Incline walking and/or gradually increasing speed (below jogging) and duration (<20-30 minutes) is acceptable so long as symptoms are not noted during or after performance. If symptoms present, these should be discussed with a qualified provider to determine whether they are a normal response to new loading of affected tissue or if they are an indicator of dysfunction.

In the early postpartum period, initial focus should be on reconnecting with diaphragmatic breathing to restore thoracic and lumbar mobility as well as to increase on-demand neuromuscular connection of the pelvic floor musculature. Initiation of gentle transversus abdominis work may begin with tasks such as pelvic tilts. Gentle lumbar and thoracic mobility such as lumbar rotation (Figure 2, A, B) and the side-lying “open book” exercise (Figure 2, C, D) within pain-free range may be performed to limit stiffness and encourage safe range of motion.

Figure 2. Range of motion exercises for lumbar mobility.

Lumbar rotation to the left (A) and right (B) with knees returning to center/neutral; side-lying “open book” exercise beginning (C) to end position (D) with knees supported at ninety-degree angle.

Light pelvic floor contract/relax movements may be initiated but deferred if symptomatic. As recovery progresses, independence in diaphragmatic breathing and anterior/posterior pelvic tilting should occur. Transversus abdominis stability drills may be initiated, preferably with less reliance on pelvic tilting. This should be coordinated with breath work to include supine, side-lying, and quadruped positions (Figure 3). Pelvic floor contractions and relaxations can be incorporated in this timeframe but may be deferred until internal muscle examination if pain occurs with performance.

Figure 3. Side-lying transverse abdominis isometric contraction (B) coordinated by pushing into block and drawing in ribs followed by relaxation (A) and exhalation. Quadruped transverse abdominis contraction (C) by drawing in of the umbilicus and relaxation (D). Hook-lying ball press (E) conducted by pushing arms into ball while exhaling.

Exercises focused on postural strength and endurance are important, as this is an area many new mothers have difficulty with due to nursing and holding the baby. Coordination of the transversus abdominis in functional positions such as sitting, standing, and high plank positions may also be initiated at this point if asymptomatic. Gentle open kinetic chain (OKC) movements may be integrated to increase hip strength and begin improving function associated with pregnancy postural changes. Appropriate pelvic floor contract/relax should be integrated into these movements to include light functional movements such as sit to stand or step ups.

Postpartum (weeks 7-12)

A walking program may continue, increasing speed and duration as tolerated. As there is a wide amount of variation in readiness for impact at this phase, adding short <20 second jogging bouts may be appropriate at the eight-week postnatal mark for athletes dependent on labor duration, degree of tearing, and other biopsychosocial factors to include sleep, hormone changes, and nursing status. It is recommended that if jogging is added during this phase, initial work:recovery intervals should be 1:2 ratio of time. This interval impact training should begin with no more than 20 minutes total duration, followed by monitoring, to ensure no symptom increase in the 48 hours after completion. If no symptom increase is present, duration may be slowly increased both in length of the activity interval as well as length of total duration of training. Impact “readiness” should be indicated by implementation of impact drills and response to initiation of a running program.

A sample return to running program can also be found in Table 3 with the initial suggested 1:2 work:rest ratio. These guidelines are focused on duration as opposed to distance with the understanding that pace will vary significantly dependent on the individual athlete as well as type of birth and associated tissue injury. It is important to note that this is only a sample program, and work, rest, and total time parameters may each be adjusted up or down to meet the individual needs of each athlete. Based on a combination of guidelines with varying recommendations of return to run timeframes, this particular protocol suggests that running should begin no sooner than eight weeks postpartum, only after the athlete is able to walk a minimum of 30 minutes without symptoms, in addition to being able to tolerate the six tasks in the Run Readiness Scale (step ups, wall sits, single leg squats, double leg squats, and a plank hold – each lasting one minute) without symptoms.^25,36,38 When initiating the return to running program, each portion should be completed twice with 48 hours of rest between completions to ensure that no delayed symptom onset occurs. In the absence of an increase in symptoms 48 hours after the completion of the second trial of each week, the athlete should progress to the next phase until continuous running of desired distances is achieved. Increased symptoms during or after running should be discussed with a pelvic health physical therapist and progression to the next phase should be restricted to allow for a more individualized assessment regarding the source of those symptoms. It is also important to note that running with a stroller will result in postural changes and increased energy expenditure. If running with a stroller, the two-handed method proposed by Goom et al is most commonly suggested as this resulted in the speed and stride length closest to the baseline of each athlete.²⁵

Table 3. Sample Return to Running Program.

Week of Program	Work Phase (jog/run)	Rest Phase (walk)	Maximum Total Time
1	1 min	2 min	20 min
2	1 min	1 min	20 min
3	1 min	2 min	30 min
4	1 min	1 min	30 min
5	2 min	2 min	20 min
6	2 min	1 min	20 min
7	2 min	2 min	30 min
8	2 min	1 min	30 min
9	3-5 min	2 min	30 min
10	3-5 min	2 min	45 min
11	5-10 min	2 min	30 min
12*	10-15 min	2 min	45 min

*Beyond week 12, desired factors (i.e. intensity, duration) may increase or decrease dependent on athlete goals. If the client desires to increase shorter duration speed work, this program may be more heavily focused on the earlier components with increasing intensity of the work phase.

Awareness and improvement of postural changes that have occurred during pregnancy and that often persist postpartum (limited thoracic rotation, improving degree of excessive anterior/posterior pelvic tilting) should all continue to be addressed as appropriate for each individual patient. An internal muscle exam should be performed if desired by patient to determine need for focused up-training vs. down-training at the pelvic floor once the individual is cleared for internal muscle examination by their OBGYN. Pelvic floor muscle focus should be on achieving full range of motion, quick flicks (strength), and endurance holds without compensations to encourage carryover into the functional tasks mentioned below.

Closed kinetic chain (CKC) strength tasks such as squatting, lunging, heel raises, or step ups to mimic movements that would be required in running or sport may also be integrated at this point. As tolerated, movement should progress from single-leg to double-leg to improve tolerance to this position. In addition, towards the end of this phase the speed of these movements may increase (i.e., quick step ups or quick sit to stand) to prepare musculature for more power-based movement. Approaching end of this phase may also include more horizontal impact work such as mountain climbers or plank hop outs in preparation for more upright impact work in the next phase. While this horizontal impact work may require less strength and coordination of the pelvic floor muscles, it does require increased control of the core and thus the incline may be modified to meet the needs of the athlete as both areas are heavily affected during the postnatal recovery period.

Cadence in running should range between 160-180 bpm to limit excessive force through the lower extremities as even a 10% increase in cadence has been shown to decrease mechanical stress at the knee joint.³⁹ Running gait should also be individually assessed to limit likelihood of injury. Factors such as peak hip and knee adduction and knee stiffness may demonstrate more notable compensations in the postpartum phase with a comprehensive guide to 2D running analysis provided by Souza and colleagues.⁴⁰

Postpartum (weeks 13+)

Mileage may be increased gradually, increasing speed in short bouts while incorporating walking, jogging and rest into the run as needed. As cardiovascular output increases, cross training (weightlifting, complimentary cardiorespiratory modalities) should also increase to have an athletically balanced approach to increasing intensity and duration. Symptoms should be monitored during and post training to make the necessary adjustments in training variables.

Impact work can be slowly graded from horizontal to upright as tolerated without symptoms. Initial attempts at running may be performed on slight incline to assist the pelvic floor musculature from a postural perspective and slowly decreased to 0% as tolerated. This slight incline limits excessive anterior pelvic tilt that many new mothers note postpartum to assist with muscular function at the pelvic floor. As new mothers can better control these habitual postures acquired during pregnancy, incline can be decreased to promote flat road running. Full clearance for return to running and sport should be assessed weekly as training volume slowly increases per ACSM guidelines (2-10%/week).

Additional Considerations

It is important to note that with this suggested timeline that there are common misconceptions surrounding regular pelvic floor contractions (Kegels) during pregnancy for pelvic floor strength. Many women are anecdotally instructed to focus on repeated pelvic floor contractions in order to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles for labor and delivery without being instructed on the need for relaxation of these muscles to encourage improved ease of delivery. Many athletes may suffer from the overactivity of their musculature both in pregnancy and postpartum, and symptoms can be made worse by performing repeated and regular muscle contractions at the pelvic floor when not indicated.⁴¹ The ability of a trained pelvic floor physical therapist to perform an internal muscle examination both during pregnancy and postpartum can ensure that the pelvic floor musculature is achieving appropriate range of motion and that contractions are being performed correctly. Any symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction should serve as indicators for lack of readiness for progression to the next phase and may require additional visits to allow for safety in these progressions.

Other considerations as the athlete returns to running include timing of nursing with recommendations to empty the breasts just prior to running to limit discomfort and potential clogged ducts associated with full breasts. Athletes should be educated that exercise has not been shown to limit breastmilk production so long as appropriate hydration status and caloric intake is maintained.⁴² Sports bra fitting should provide appropriate support without being overly compressive and professional fitting of the bra is highly recommended, noting that previously worn breast support garments may no longer be adequate.^43,44

While highly variable among individuals, foot size and shape can also change during pregnancy because of increased laxity of the ligaments in the feet. As such, a postnatal footwear assessment should be performed to ensure that running shoes are providing adequate support in addition to the intrinsic foot strengthening suggested within this protocol and others.³⁸ While there are theories that the relaxin hormone responsible for this laxity may increase likelihood for injury, there are no studies that currently support this.⁴⁵

CONCLUSION

Women in the pregnant and postpartum periods have lacked adequate guidance regarding appropriate exercise prescription. The proposed timeline of rehabilitation is proposed to facilitate improved quality of life, increased likelihood of full and safe return to sport, and less medical care requirements for postpartum symptoms. Understanding the intricacies of the female athlete during this time may assist clinicians and coaches with guidance to assist in safe return to sport. Without a slow and graded return to exercise which is commonplace for other musculoskeletal events, the current paradigm may unintendedly be overly conservative in some respects (during pregnancy) while not addressing dysfunction during the postpartum recovery.^46,47

Despite evidence regarding the effectiveness of pelvic floor physical therapy,^24,48,49 no specific rehabilitation guidelines currently exist to assist clinicians in determining appropriate frequency or progression of exercise for the pregnant and postpartum athlete. This commentary presents suggestions regarding graded activity during pregnancy and rehabilitation during post-partum recovery that may decrease the likelihood complications. The importance of this commentary lies not only in the outline of a preventative approach to postpartum care, but in the recommendation of continuous reassessment of the changing body throughout pregnancy and the early postpartum period as athletes perform and return to activities of daily living, work, exercise activity, and sport participation. As musculoskeletal health has been largely unstudied in this population, this protocol may provide guidelines for the prevention of common musculoskeletal dysfunction in the pregnant and postpartum athlete and spark future research.

COI Statement

The authors of this study report no conflicts of interest with regard to this manuscript or its contents.