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Exercise Prescription and Adaptations in Early Postpartum

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Exercise and Physical Activity During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Abstract

There are several guidelines supporting the benefits of exercising during pregnancy and postpartum. Scientific research conducted in the last decades has markedly changed the perception of prenatal physical activity, overlap** the conservative approach presented in the first publications. However, those guidelines contain very general recommendations on physical activity during the postpartum period and little information that exercise professionals could use when programming the contents of targeted exercise classes for early postpartum women. Regarding the physical adaptations that persist for several weeks after birth, the early postpartum period can be assumed as the “fourth trimester.” This chapter addresses the steps for planning, conducting, and monitoring early postpartum exercise classes, aiming to help women to resume exercise and sports practice in a transition stage to “normal” life.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior - ESDRM, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Rio Maior, Portugal

    Rita Santos-Rocha

  2. Laboratory of Biomechanics and Functional Morphology, Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance - CIPER, Faculty of Human Kinetics - FMH, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    Rita Santos-Rocha

  3. Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Poland

    Anna Szumilewicz

Authors
  1. Rita Santos-Rocha
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  2. Anna Szumilewicz
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Correspondence to Rita Santos-Rocha .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior - ESDRM, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Rio Maior, Portugal

    Rita Santos-Rocha

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Santos-Rocha, R., Szumilewicz, A. (2022). Exercise Prescription and Adaptations in Early Postpartum. In: Santos-Rocha, R. (eds) Exercise and Physical Activity During Pregnancy and Postpartum. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06137-0_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06137-0_10

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-06136-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-06137-0

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