Exercise and Physical Activity During Pregnancy and Postpartum: Evidence-Based Guidelines

ISBN-13: 9783031061363 / Angielski / Twarda / 2022 / 483 str.

Rita Santos-Rocha

Opis

This is the second edition of a well-received, practice oriented, multidisciplinary book filling the gap between evidence-based knowledge on the benefits of physical activity and exercise during pregnancy and postpartum and the implementation of exercise programs and related health promotion measures in pregnant women.Readers will find up-to-date evidence on the psychological, social, physiological, body composition, musculoskeletal, and biomechanical changes that occur during pregnancy and their implications for physical activity and exercise. Further, the authors equip the reader with the latest guidelines and detailed description of exercise testing, prescription, selection and adaptation for pregnant and postpartum women, including those with clinical conditions.This new edition has been thoroughly updated, and includes additional chapters focused on the pedagogical intervention in pre and postnatal exercise programs, exercise prescription and adaptation during postpartum and diet recommendations for the pregnant exerciser and athlete.  Written by recognized experts in the field, the book aims to allay undue fears regarding the consequences of exercising during pregnancy. Moreover, it provides medical, sports, and fitness professionals both with the knowledge and the practical expertise needed to offer an optimal guidance on exercising to pregnant exercisers and athletes. 

Spis treści

1. Physical Activity, Exercise and Health Promotion for the Pregnant Exerciser.- 2. Psychological, Social and Behavioural Changes during Pregnancy. Implications for Physical Activity and Exercise.- 3. Physiological Changes during Pregnancy. Main Adaptations and Discomforts and Implications for Physical Activity and Exercise.- 4. Body Composition Changes during Pregnancy and Effects of Physical Exercise.- 5. Biomechanical Adaptations of Gait in Pregnancy. Implications for Physical Activity and Exercise.- 6. Specific Musculoskeletal Adaptations in Pregnancy: pelvic floor, abdominal muscles, pelvic girdle, and lower back. Implications for physical activity and exercise.- 7. Evidence-Based and Practice-Oriented Guidelines for Exercising during Pregnancy.- 8. Exercise Testing and Prescription in pregnancy.- 9. Exercise Selection and Adaptations during Pregnancy.- 10. Exercise prescription and adaptations in early postpartum. 11.Strengthening competences of future healthcare professionals to promote physical activity during pregnancy and post-partum.- 12. Therapeutic Exercise regarding Musculoskeletal Health of the Pregnant Exerciser and Athlete.- 13. Nutritional and energy Requirements for the Pregnant Exerciser and Athlete.- 14. Diet Recommendations for the Pregnant Exerciser and Athlete.- (new chapters, not included in the first edition, are highlighted in bold).

O autorze

Rita Santos Rocha is Associate Professor at the Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior (ESDRM) – Polytechnic Institute of Santarém (IPSantarém), Portugal, that she supervised as Director between 2011 and 2015, and as President of the Scientific Board between 2018 and 2022. She is Coordinator of the Master Degree in Physical Activity and Health and Professor of the Bachelor Degree in Sport, Fitness & Health (ESDRM), in Exercise Testing and Prescription, and Public Health and Physical Activity. Researcher of the Neuromechanics of Human Movement Group of CIPER (Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance) – Faculty of Human Kinetics (FMH) – University of Lisbon.

Professor Santos Rocha research interests are focused on gait biomechanics and the effects of physical activity and exercise programs on health and fitness parameters of pregnant and postpartum women, and other special populations. She was the leader of the EuropeActive’s Educational Standards for the Pregnancy and Postnatal Exercise Specialist published in 2016, which refers to European Qualification Framework. Professor Santos Rocha has been collaborating with the Professional Standards Committee of EuropeActive (former European Health & Fitness Association) since 2010, with the Scientific Board of the Gymnastics Federation of Portugal since 2006, and she was a founder member of the Portuguese Association of Exercise Physiologists (APFE) in 2018.

In the past, she worked as a fitness instructor, gymnastics and physical education teacher, and exercise physiologist, with people from 2 to 92 years old, including pregnant and postpartum women. She continues to work in the fitness industry as a training provider and supervisor of exercise professionals and students. 

She holds a BSc in Sports Sciences (1996), a MSc in Exercise and Health (2000), and a PhD in Human Movement – Health and Fitness (2006).