16. Less than one-third of mothers return to pre-pregnancy fitness levels one year after giving birth
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
New research shows that less than a third of mothers return to their pre-pregnancy fitness levels a year after giving birth. In a study published in the journal PLOS One, researchers at Martin Army Community Hospital in Georgia studied 460 females active in the military when they became pregnant. They found that only 30 percent of the participants had the same fitness levels a year after giving birth as before. And three-fourths of the women took three years to reach their pre-pregnancy fitness levels. Generally, women who have a healthy pregnancy and undergo vaginal deliveries can start exercising soon after delivery. C-sections and more complicated pregnancies might require longer delays. But the benefits of exercise for newborn mothers are numerous, including better sleep and mood, quicker loss of extra weight, and lower risk of postpartum depression.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
