This is a one-day, remote continuing education course that combines zoom lecture, pre-recorded lectures and videos, and open discussion/breakout sessions. This course is designed to educate practitioners on the unique considerations of pregnant and postpartum athletes engaging in high intensity interval training (HIIT). In this course, participants will review the current literature, discuss the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum high intensity athletes, and learn how to most effectively treat these patients as practitioners. The main focus of this course will be to learn how exercising throughout pregnancy, or returning to exercise postpartum, may look different for a high intensity athlete versus a non-HIIT athlete. Participants will discuss how anatomical and hormonal changes will affect training for the pregnant and postpartum athlete and review various modifications for this population. We will also discuss how various stresses placed on the body during these activities may affect pelvic floor muscle function and review various pressure management strategies that can be utilized during high intensity interval training.

There will be 1.5 hours of video lecture, 4 hours zoom lecture and 1 hour of breakout sessions. The breakout sessions will be broken up into pregnancy considerations and postpartum considerations. During these sessions, we will review case studies, and each group will be responsible for creating appropriate exercise modifications for their patient. There is no equipment required for this course.

Audience: This course is targeted for physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, physical therapy and occupational therapy students.