This month we are providing a quick rundown on a recent study performed on women throughout their pregnancy and beyond who participated in heavy resistance training. The study performed in June through August of 2021 on 679 women with a 60 question questionnaire that covered all topics of maternal demographics, reproductive history, pregnancy health outcomes, pre-pregnancy/pregnancy/postpartum aerobic and resistance training characteristics, pelvic floor dysfunction etc. Here are some of the key findings:
- Urinary Incontinence: 37% experience this during pregnancy (which was interestingly directly correlated to lower 1RM for squat, bench press, clean and jerk prior to conception)
- Training Patterns: 85% of participants continued to engage in heavy lifting until delivery.
- Olympic Weightlifting: participants who engaged in weightlifting during pregnancy had a high pre-pregnancy 1RM for all six lifts.
- Supine Weightlifting: participants who continued to engage in suping weightlifiting during pregnancy had higher pre-pregnancy 1RM for all lifts and greater frequency of weightlifting.
Where did these Mommas to be find their information? This was also in the survey: We – Healthcare providers told 61% to continue heavy lifting with modification
- 51% learned from a pelvic floor physiotherapist
- 39% went to the internet
- 27% learned from their weightlifting coach
What’s next? If you are unsure about what to do pre, during or postpartum, set up an evaluation with us today!
Leah Kluemper, PTA