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Common musculoskeletal impairments in postpartum runners: an international Delphi study

Publication ,  Journal Article
Christopher, SM; Garcia, AN; Snodgrass, SJ; Cook, C
Published in: Archives of Physiotherapy
December 1, 2020

Background: Postpartum runners report musculoskeletal pain with running. Because of inadequate research, little is known about the origin and pain-related classification. Through expert consensus, this study is the first attempt to understand the musculoskeletal impairments that these runners present with. The objective of this survey was to gather expert consensus on characteristics of reported impairments in postpartum runners that have musculoskeletal pain. Methods: A web-based Delphi survey was conducted and was composed of five categories: strength, range of motion, alignment and flexibility impairments, as well as risk factors for pain in postpartum runners. Results: A total of 117 experts were invited. Forty-five experts completed round I and forty-one completed rounds II and III. The strength impairments that reached consensus were abdominal, hip and pelvic floor muscle weakness. The range of motion impairments that reached consensus were hip extension restriction, anterior pelvic tilt and general hypermobility. The alignment impairments that reached consensus were a Trendelenburg sign, dynamic knee valgus, lumbar lordosis, over-pronation and thoracic kyphosis. The flexibility impairments that reached consensus were abdominal wall laxity, and tightness in hip flexors, lumbar extensors, iliotibial band and hamstrings. The risk factors for pain in postpartum runners were muscular imbalance, poor lumbopelvic control, too much too soon, life stressors, pain during pregnancy and pelvic floor trauma. Conclusion: This study presents a framework for clinicians to understand pain in postpartum runners and that can be investigated in future cohort studies. Level of evidence: 5

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Published In

Archives of Physiotherapy

DOI

EISSN

2057-0082

Publication Date

December 1, 2020

Volume

10

Issue

1

Related Subject Headings

  • 4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science
 

Citation

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Christopher, S. M., Garcia, A. N., Snodgrass, S. J., & Cook, C. (2020). Common musculoskeletal impairments in postpartum runners: an international Delphi study. Archives of Physiotherapy, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40945-020-00090-y
Christopher, S. M., A. N. Garcia, S. J. Snodgrass, and C. Cook. “Common musculoskeletal impairments in postpartum runners: an international Delphi study.” Archives of Physiotherapy 10, no. 1 (December 1, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40945-020-00090-y.
Christopher SM, Garcia AN, Snodgrass SJ, Cook C. Common musculoskeletal impairments in postpartum runners: an international Delphi study. Archives of Physiotherapy. 2020 Dec 1;10(1).
Christopher, S. M., et al. “Common musculoskeletal impairments in postpartum runners: an international Delphi study.” Archives of Physiotherapy, vol. 10, no. 1, Dec. 2020. Scopus, doi:10.1186/s40945-020-00090-y.
Christopher SM, Garcia AN, Snodgrass SJ, Cook C. Common musculoskeletal impairments in postpartum runners: an international Delphi study. Archives of Physiotherapy. 2020 Dec 1;10(1).
Journal cover image

Published In

Archives of Physiotherapy

DOI

EISSN

2057-0082

Publication Date

December 1, 2020

Volume

10

Issue

1

Related Subject Headings

  • 4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science