Course 1.9 The female runner: Puberty, perinatal, perimenopause and abdomino-pelvic health
This 2-day theoretical and practical course provides essential knowledge and skills on women’s running and abdomino-pelvic health in runners. The course addresses the influence of puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, breastfeeding, and menopause, to promote safe running throughout a woman’s lifespan. It also presents the main abdomino-pelvic disorders encountered in runners, and offers tools aimed at preventing and managing these disorders.
Course highlights include a unique decisional algorithm and six programs for return-to-running postpartum developed by the Running Clinic’s international team of experts.
Course objectives
Based on the most recent scientific studies, participants are expected to achieve the following skills:
• Know the anatomy and functions of the abdomino-pelvic region
• Know and apply the principle of synergy between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor
• Understand the influence of running on the abdominal-pelvic region
• Apply the concept of mechanical stress quantification to abdomino-pelvic health
• Understand and consider the influence of puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, breastfeeding, and menopause on the practice of running
• Understand the importance of running gait, impact moderating behaviors and footwear in relation to abdomino-pelvic disorders
• Use the decisional algorithm and the 6 running programs for return-to-running postpartum
• Assess and analyze abdominopelvic functioning in runners
• Prescribe appropriate exercises to the female runner according to her stage of life
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Topics covered on Day 1
The influence of running on the pelvic floor and the abdominopelvic region, and considerations for
puberty, the prenatal period, and childbirth.
- Anatomy and function of the abdomino-pelvic region
- Intraabdominal pressure, the synergy between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor and how to apply
it to abdomino-pelvic exercises - Abdomino-pelvic functioning during running
- Mechanical stress quantification and biomechanical stress, and the influence of footwear on running
- Specific considerations for the adolescent female in relation to sports and running
- Physiological changes in pregnant women
- Practicing physical activity while pregnant, including running
- Abdomino-pelvic and musculoskeletal disorders during pregnancy
- Exercises for the pregnant runner
- Childbirth, risk factors for abdominopelvic disorders postnatally, and considerations for C-section
deliveries
Topics covered on Day 2
Running in the postnatal period, returning to performance, and the perimenopausal period.
- Reminder of the key points from Day 1
- Abdomino-pelvic rehabilitation in the postpartum period, including assessment methods, exercises
and tools to guide return-to-running - Abdominal function and diastasis recti: general considerations, evaluation, rehabilitation
- Criteria for resuming physical activity and running postpartum
- Psychosocial barriers and facilitators for return-to-running postpartum
- Decisional algorithm and 6 programs to guide return-to-running postpartum
- Return to intensive training and competition
- Physiological changes in perimenopausal women
- Practice of physical activity during menopause, including running
- Cases studies
Total learning time = 14 hours