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You're hands on...time for some movement!
When it comes to exercise progression with your postpartum return-to run clients , you’re new to the game... but you’re off to an awesome start! By completing this quiz, you’ve begun to take your running smarts into your own hands.You’ve made a big, brave step towards committing to leveling up, and if that isn’t worth celebrating, what is? Maybe you want to learn how to screen for readiness to run, have a baseline exercise program for your clients, or do some basic running technique analysis…Whatever your goals may be, rest assured that with a little guidance and support you can achieve — even exceed — them."Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start." — Nido QubeinThree tips to help you on your path to helping your clients get back to postpartum running safer & sooner...1) Get your clients movingManual therapy is great & basic mat exercise is too. There's definitely a place for it in the care of our postpartum moms. That said, if moms want to care for their kids, get through daily life & especially get back to running, we need to get them off the treatment table ASAP!Instead of just picking your go-to exercises like clamshells (don't get me started...) or bridges, it's important to have a "why" behind the exercise prescription you choose for your client...one that supports and reinforces all your great work ON the table!2. Time to screen!In 2019, physiotherapy colleagues in the UK developed the first Postpartum Return to Run Guidelines ever published! Based on general research for return to run after injury, postpartum literature and what we know about the female athlete, these guidelines provide a baseline for us as clinicians, coaches & trainers instead of a random guess!Prior to the guidelines being released, I've tinkered over the years with several return-to-run after injury screens, many that included impact activities such as hopping & jumping, vital to assessing postpartum return to run.CLICK HERE to for my 10-step Postpartum Return to Run Readiness Screen, inspired by the UK Guidelines as well as running experts Chris Johnson, PT and Blaise Williams, PT. Use this screen as a baseline to help ID where your client may need to focus before getting ready to run, whether it's balance, impact management or just plain strength.3. Introduce smart exercise dosingMaybe you’ve heard this tip a million times, but I’m going to say it again because it truly is that important. Exercise should be supportive of the changes we're trying to make AND sustainable! Let's be honest...runners like to run & would rather be out on the trails than doing a laundry list of "supportive exercises." To be honest, as a runner (& a mom who doesn't have time), I feel the same way!Your clients don't want a CVS-receipt-length (aka really long) list of exercises that are boring & don't progress! Your exercise prescription should match the deficits you find in your screening, have a clear progression AND be easy for your moms to get done! If your clients aren't seeing progress, it's up to us to find that path for them! Teamwork (aka Therapeutic Alliance), makes the dream work!"Who’s this PT-running-mama with all the tips?" Let me introduce myself...Hey there 🙋♀️ I’m Dr. Carrie Pagliano, Pelvic Health Physical Therapist, runner & aspiring super-mom. I help driven physical therapists, Fitspros, coaches & trainers *just like you* get postpartum women back to the activities they love (like running), just like I've done for over 20 years. What’s my philosophy? You may ask...Well it’s all about habits, mindset & problem solving. If you’re like many, you may get overwhelmed or stuck when working with higher level clients, especially with something as intricate as running. Having a client throw on their shoes, step out the door & run seems so simple; but you & I both know how much it takes to get back to postpartum running especially with pelvic pain, prolapse, leakage or diastasis recti. Playing with a problem & it's potential solutions by mixing evidence with innovative ideas is the key to doing something different...something that might be the exact "right thing" for your client.No matter what the challenge you're working through with your client, I’m here to help! Together, we’re going to get to the bottom of the habits that may be holding you back from your helping your postpartum clients get back on the running trails!Looking for a little extra guidance? Check out these three resources...1. Check out my #paglianorunning posts on Instagram. I love sharing information that can be helpful for clients & pros. From my infamous #mythbustermonday to #thursdaytruth, I post daily on everything pelvic health for active women (& a little sprinkle of mom life/women-supporting women!)2. Read this post on my blog where I'll bust the postpartum "bouncing back" myth! Hint: just because your client had a baby doesn't mean they're doing it wrong by going slow.3. Get R2RPRO. Ready to skip the small talk & get to action? The Real Moms' Guide to Postpartum Return to Run: Pro Edition is your ticket to a proven problem solving framework that will help you navigate your most challenging postpartum clients. Get on the wait-list to be the first to know! (I've been known to toss some perks to those who know what they want!)P.S. Expect to see me in your inbox with weekly gems to help with your postpartum clients