Postpartum Exercise and Return to Fitness: Optimise Readiness for Military Mums (PERFORM)

Summary

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of a personalised physical training programme in returning servicewomen to fitness following childbirth. The idea behind the program is to target core and pelvic floor muscles, along with whole body strength and endurance to help servicewomen return to work safely and in a physically fit condition. The study will monitor the response to training using the following measures: urogynaecological measures (e.g., pelvic floor strength, prolapse, urinary incontinence), military specific fitness tests, musculoskeletal health (e.g., muscle and bone mass \& function) and mental health and wellbeing.

Conditions

• Postpartum Period

Interventions

OTHER

Training intervention.

The investigators have designed a phased 18-week physical development programme to train both rehabilitative and performance enhancement elements of physical preparation. The rehabilitation element of the programme will specifically target pelvic floor function and core strength and stability (known collectively as Core Reconnection training) from weeks 6 to 24 postpartum, and the training element of the programme will contain resistance and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) from weeks 12 to 24 postpartum.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Nottingham

  collaborator OTHER

• Robert Gordon University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Stirling

  collaborator OTHER

• Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Clare Pacey Physiotherapy Limited

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Nottingham Trent University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Craig Sale, PhD · Nottingham Trent University

• Kirsty Elliott-Sale, PhD · Nottingham Trent University

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-07-04

Primary Completion

2022-09-20

Completion

2022-09-20

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations