Encouraging physical activity during and after pregnancy in the COVID-19 era, and beyond

Journal article

Atkinson, L., DeVivo, M., Hayes, L., Hesketh, K. R., Mills, H., Newham, J. J., Olander, E. K. and Smith, D. M. 2020. Encouraging physical activity during and after pregnancy in the COVID-19 era, and beyond. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17 (7304), pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197304
AuthorsAtkinson, L., DeVivo, M., Hayes, L., Hesketh, K. R., Mills, H., Newham, J. J., Olander, E. K. and Smith, D. M.
Abstract

Physical activity is known to decline during pregnancy and the postnatal period, yet physical activity is recommended during this time due to the significant health benefits for mothers and their offspring. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed to reduce infection rates, pregnant and postnatal women have experienced disruption not just to their daily lives but also to their pregnancy healthcare experience and their motherhood journey with their new
infant.

This has included substantial changes in how, when and why they have engaged with physical activity. While some of these changes undoubtedly increased the challenge of being sufficiently active as a pregnant or postnatal woman, they have also revealed new opportunities to reach and support women and their families. This commentary details these challenges and opportunities, and highlights how researchers and practitioners can, and arguably must, harness these short-term changes for long-term benefit. This includes a call for a fresh focus on how we can engage and support those individuals
and groups who are both hardest hit by COVID-19 and have previously been under-represented and under-served by antenatal and postnatal physical activity research and interventions.

KeywordsPhysical activity; Pregnncy; Postnatal exercise; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Behaviour change
Year2020
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Journal citation17 (7304), pp. 1-9
PublisherMDPI
ISSN1660-4601
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197304
Official URLhttp://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197304
FunderBritish Psychological Society
Publication dates
Online07 Oct 2020
Publication process dates
Deposited09 Nov 2020
Accepted02 Oct 2020
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/8w6qv/encouraging-physical-activity-during-and-after-pregnancy-in-the-covid-19-era-and-beyond

Download files

Accepted author manuscript
Atkinson et al (2020) Encouring PA during and after pregnancy in the COVID-19 Era, and beyond..pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 23
    total views
  • 6
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Laying the foundation for Pregnancy Physical Activity Profiling: a framework for providing tailored physical activity advice and guidance to pregnant women
DeVivo, M. and Mills, H. 2021. Laying the foundation for Pregnancy Physical Activity Profiling: a framework for providing tailored physical activity advice and guidance to pregnant women. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
A rapid review of communication strategies for physical activity guidelines and physical activity promotion: A review of worldwide strategies
Budzynski-Seymour, E., Milton, K., Mills, H., Wade, M., Foster, C., Vishnubala, D., Baxter, B., Williamson, C. and Steele, J. 2021. A rapid review of communication strategies for physical activity guidelines and physical activity promotion: A review of worldwide strategies. Journal of Physical Activity and Health.
Pool closures during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on low back pain management
Oakes, H., DeVivo, M., Stephensen, D. and Mills, H. 2021. Pool closures during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on low back pain management.
Exercise professionals' confidence in engaging women to be physically active during pregnancy
Draper, S., DeVivo, M. and Mills, H. Exercise professionals' confidence in engaging women to be physically active during pregnancy.
Scoping review: should physiotherapists recommend swimming to patients with low back pain and is further research indicated
Oakes, H., Mills, H., DeVivo, M. and Stephensen, D. 2020. Scoping review: should physiotherapists recommend swimming to patients with low back pain and is further research indicated. Physiotherapy. 107 (S1), p. e190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2020.03.278
Evaluating Mums’ Zone: a combined intervention of physical activity and social support for new mums.
DeVivo, M. and Mills, H. 2020. Evaluating Mums’ Zone: a combined intervention of physical activity and social support for new mums.
2019 Women in Sport and Exercise Conference abstracts: Introducing This Mum Moves: an educational campaign to support pregnant women and new mothers in enjoying and benefiting from an active lifestyle
DeVivo, M. and Mills, H. 2020. 2019 Women in Sport and Exercise Conference abstracts: Introducing This Mum Moves: an educational campaign to support pregnant women and new mothers in enjoying and benefiting from an active lifestyle. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal. 28 (1), pp. 55-65. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2020-0011
Infographic. Guidance for medical, health and fitness professionals to support women in returning to running postnatally
Donnelly, G. M., Rankin, A., Mills, H., DeVivo, M., Goom, T. and Brockwell, E 2020. Infographic. Guidance for medical, health and fitness professionals to support women in returning to running postnatally. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
#Greatcoaching within sport
Howells, K., Gubby, L., Dray, K. and Mills, H. 2019. #Greatcoaching within sport. Expert Comments
#BalanceforBetter within sport
Howells, K., Gubby, L., Dray, K. and Mills, H. 2019. #BalanceforBetter within sport. CCCU website Media Department.
Assessing the psychosocial factors associated with adherence to exercise referral schemes: a systematic review
Eynon, M., Foad, J., Downey, J., Bowmer, Y. and Mills, H. 2019. Assessing the psychosocial factors associated with adherence to exercise referral schemes: a systematic review. Scandinavian Journal Of Medicine & Science In Sports. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13403
Educational campaign to support pregnant women and new mothers in enjoying and benefiting from an active lifestyle. Insight report.
Gilroy, V., DeVivo, M. and Lawson, R. 2019. Educational campaign to support pregnant women and new mothers in enjoying and benefiting from an active lifestyle. Insight report. ukactive.
You're pregnant, are you sure you should be doing that?
Mills, H. and DeVivo, M. 2019. You're pregnant, are you sure you should be doing that? Human Kinetics.
Physical activity during and beyond pregnancy: The importance of consistent and clear messages
Mills, H. and DeVivo, M. 2019. Physical activity during and beyond pregnancy: The importance of consistent and clear messages.
Physical activity and pregnancy
Mills, H., DeVivo, M., Tillet, E. and Johnson, B. 2019. Physical activity and pregnancy. Royal College of General Practitioners.
Should physiotherapists recommend swimming to patients with low back pain (LBP) and is further research warrented?
Oakes, H., DeVivo, M., Mills, H. and Stephensen, D 2019. Should physiotherapists recommend swimming to patients with low back pain (LBP) and is further research warrented?
“They turn to you first for everything”: insights into midwives’ perspectives of providing physical activity advice and guidance to pregnant women.
De Vivo, M. and Mills, H. 2019. “They turn to you first for everything”: insights into midwives’ perspectives of providing physical activity advice and guidance to pregnant women. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Bump start needed: linking guidelines, policy and practice in promoting physical activity during and beyond pregnancy
Mills, H., Atkinson, L, Olander, E.K, Smith, D, Hayes, L, Currie, S, Newham, J, Foster, C and De Vivo, M. 2019. Bump start needed: linking guidelines, policy and practice in promoting physical activity during and beyond pregnancy. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
We need more female role models in sport to inspire the next generation
Howells, K., Gubby, L., Dray, K. and Mills, H. 2018. We need more female role models in sport to inspire the next generation. CCCU media pages.
New teaching resource for promoting physical activity in pregnancy
De Vivo, M. and Mills, H. 2017. New teaching resource for promoting physical activity in pregnancy. Canterbury Christ Church University.
A mixed methods approach to advance the understanding of physical activity behaviour during pregnancy
De Vivo, M. and Mills, H. 2017. A mixed methods approach to advance the understanding of physical activity behaviour during pregnancy. Journal of Sports Sciences. 35 (S1), pp. 22-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2017.1378421
Why absence of evidence of risk is not the same as evidence for absence of risk
Mills, H., De Vivo, M. and Beedie, C. 2017. Why absence of evidence of risk is not the same as evidence for absence of risk. CCCU Expert Comment.
Experiences of physical activity during pregnancy resulting from in vitro fertilisation: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
Walker, C., Mills, H. and Gilchrist, A. 2017. Experiences of physical activity during pregnancy resulting from in vitro fertilisation: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2017.1313968
“Already tired – do I need to be more tired?!” Eliciting the modal salient exercise beliefs of pregnant women in East Kent (United Kingdom).
De Vivo, M. and Mills, H. 2015. “Already tired – do I need to be more tired?!” Eliciting the modal salient exercise beliefs of pregnant women in East Kent (United Kingdom).
Examining the effectiveness of the theory of planned behaviour in explaining exercise intention and behaviour during pregnancy: a meta-analysis
De Vivo, M., Hulbert, S., Mills, H. and Uphill, M. 2016. Examining the effectiveness of the theory of planned behaviour in explaining exercise intention and behaviour during pregnancy: a meta-analysis. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2015.1118022
Public attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities after viewing Olympic or Paralympic performance
Ferrara, K., Burns, J. and Mills, H. 2015. Public attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities after viewing Olympic or Paralympic performance. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. 32 (1), pp. 19-33. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2014-0136
“I could have gone off much harder”. Post-race counterfactual thinking in indoor rowers.
Dray, K., Uphill, M., Mills, H. and Southam, M. 2015. “I could have gone off much harder”. Post-race counterfactual thinking in indoor rowers.
Examining the effectiveness of the Theory of Planned Behaviour in predicting exercise intention and behaviour during pregnancy: Preliminary findings from a random effects meta-analysis
De Vivo, M., Hulbert, S., Mills, H. and Uphill, M. 2014. Examining the effectiveness of the Theory of Planned Behaviour in predicting exercise intention and behaviour during pregnancy: Preliminary findings from a random effects meta-analysis.
Exploring perceptions of success within an exercise referral scheme: a mixed method investigation
Mills, H., Crone, D., James, D. and Johnston, L. 2012. Exploring perceptions of success within an exercise referral scheme: a mixed method investigation. Evaluation Review. 36 (6), pp. 407-429. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193841X12474452
The potential power of the Paralympics - changing attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities
Parrot, K., Burns, J., Mills, H. and Baker, P. 2012. The potential power of the Paralympics - changing attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities.
'Even if you can’t skip, you have a skip in your step when you walk out of the gym': a study into patients' perceptions of an exercise referral scheme
Mills, H., Crone, D., Johnston, L. and James, D. 2007. 'Even if you can’t skip, you have a skip in your step when you walk out of the gym': a study into patients' perceptions of an exercise referral scheme.
Emotional intelligence: associations with emotions, emotion regulation and rowing performance
Uphill, M. and Mills, H. 2011. Emotional intelligence: associations with emotions, emotion regulation and rowing performance. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 45 (15). https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2011-090606.36
Response to article: Effect of exercise referral schemes in primary care on physical activity and improving health outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis
Crone, D., James, D., Mills, H. and Johnston, L. 2011. Response to article: Effect of exercise referral schemes in primary care on physical activity and improving health outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal (BMJ). 2011 (343). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d6462
Building Bridges - An innovative tool to capture small health behaviour changes; the development process
Mills, H., Uphill, M. and Weed, M. 2011. Building Bridges - An innovative tool to capture small health behaviour changes; the development process.
Factors associated with exercise referral scheme success
Mills, H. 2009. Factors associated with exercise referral scheme success.
'Even if you can't skip, you have a skip in your step when you walk out of the gym': a study into patients' perceptions of an exercise referral scheme
Mills, H., James, D., Chrone, D. and Johnston, L. 2007. 'Even if you can't skip, you have a skip in your step when you walk out of the gym': a study into patients' perceptions of an exercise referral scheme. Journal of Sports Sciences. 25 (S2), pp. 108-109.
A mixed method investigation into the perception and measurement of success in an exercise referral scheme
Mills, H., Crone, D., James, D. and Johnston, L. 2010. A mixed method investigation into the perception and measurement of success in an exercise referral scheme.
‘Like I say to my dad, it’s not you’re fat, it’s probably muscle’ – exploring young boys’ perceptions of the physical activity and health relationship
Mills, H. and Mendez, K. 2010. ‘Like I say to my dad, it’s not you’re fat, it’s probably muscle’ – exploring young boys’ perceptions of the physical activity and health relationship.
Public health and physical activity
Mills, H., Crone, D. and El Ansari, W. 2009. Public health and physical activity. in: Wilson, F. and Mabhala, M. (ed.) Key Concepts in Public Health Los Angeles SAGE Publications Ltd. pp. 202-206
Factors associated with physical activity referral completion and health outcomes
James, D., Mills, H., Crone, D., Johnston, L., Morris, C. and Gidlow, C. 2009. Factors associated with physical activity referral completion and health outcomes. Journal of Sports Sciences. 27 (10), pp. 1007-1017. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410903214248