Exercise Benefits and Recommendations for the 6-Week Postpartum Period
Brandon Loewen, Connor Collum, Greg A. Ryan
Abstract
ABSTRACT The postpartum period is the stage after childbirth and is associated with many physical and psychological changes. Exercise has been shown to be beneficial for both the physical and psychological health of a new mother. Previous literature has examined the effect of both aerobic and resistance training in this period; however, there have been no clear guidelines and recommendations provided. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review the benefits of exercise in the postpartum period, and to provide guidelines and a sample 6-week aerobic and resistance training program after exercise initiation after delivery and medical clearance. A video abstract describing this article can be found in Supplemental Digital Content 1 (see video, http://links.lww.com/SCJ/A295).