Deery Elizabeth, Bonner Olivia, Faulkner Maria
Centre for Exercise Medicine, Physical Activity and Health, Sports and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Belfast, UK.
Department of Tourism and Sport, Atlantic Technological University Donegal, Letterkenny, Ireland.
BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2025 Feb 13;11(1):e002369. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002369. eCollection 2025.
Individuals who were active before and during pregnancy face significant barriers to return postpartum, and participation in exercise and sport often decreases significantly during this period. Evidence is beginning to emerge regarding elite athletes' experiences with returning to sport postpartum. Understanding the experiences of recreational participants is essential to improve wider participation postpartum. This qualitative study aimed to describe the experiences of those returning to recreational exercise or sport postpartum, and to identify actions to support such a return. 14 mothers from the UK and Ireland, participated in one-to-one interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using contemporary reflexive thematic analysis. Six themes were generated: (1) The challenging transition to motherhood, (2) Regaining, reclaiming and role modelling: motivators for returning, (3) Changed bodies and reframed minds: the experience and benefits of returning, (4) The mental load: adaptation, priorities, judgement and guilt, (5) Lack of appropriate knowledge and professional support and (6) Support, environment, culture and provision. Participants gave detailed accounts of the experience of returning to recreational exercise or sport postpartum. A list of actionable steps to support the return to recreational exercise and sport postpartum was generated from the data. These include the training of relevant professionals, the delivery of guidance during antenatal and postpartum care, the provision of opportunities to return postpartum and the embedding of policy to support such a return. The study provides actionable recommendations and future research directions to support postpartum mothers in resuming recreational exercise and sport.
在怀孕前和怀孕期间活跃的女性产后恢复运动面临重大障碍，而且在此期间参与锻炼和运动的情况通常会大幅下降。关于精英运动员产后恢复运动的经历，已有证据开始显现。了解休闲运动参与者的经历对于提高产后更广泛的参与度至关重要。这项定性研究旨在描述产后恢复休闲运动的女性的经历，并确定支持这种恢复的行动。来自英国和爱尔兰的14位母亲参与了一对一访谈。访谈内容逐字转录，并采用当代反思性主题分析法进行分析。生成了六个主题：(1) 向母亲角色的艰难转变，(2) 恢复、重拾与榜样作用：恢复运动的动机，(3) 身体变化与观念重塑：恢复运动的经历和益处，(4) 心理负担：适应、优先级、评判与内疚，(5) 缺乏适当的知识和专业支持，以及(6) 支持、环境、文化与供给。参与者详细讲述了产后恢复休闲运动的经历。从数据中生成了一份支持产后恢复休闲运动的可行步骤清单。这些步骤包括对相关专业人员进行培训，在产前和产后护理期间提供指导，提供产后恢复运动的机会，以及制定支持这种恢复的政策。该研究为支持产后母亲恢复休闲运动提供了可行的建议和未来研究方向。
