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

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