In this premiere episode of Just Between Us (and Science): The Women’s Health Lab, host Dr. Patrícia Mota sits down with Dr. Rubén Barakat, professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and one of the world’s leading researchers in maternal exercise science.

They explore how movement transforms pregnancy — physically, mentally, and socially — and why collaboration between physiotherapists, exercise professionals, and medical teams is crucial for the future of women’s health.

Dr. Barakat shares the story behind the Barakat Model, decades of research on prenatal exercise, and the impact of evidence-based practice on depression, hypertension, macrosomia, and postpartum recovery.

This episode challenges myths about rest during pregnancy and reminds us that movement is medicine — when guided by science and empathy.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Exercise during pregnancy improves both physical and mental health.
• The Barakat Model promotes collaboration across disciplines.
• Supervised exercise can reduce prenatal and postpartum depression.
• Movement helps prevent urinary incontinence and gestational hypertension.
• Technology can help bring evidence-based health education to more women.
• Rest is not the solution — movement is medicine.

Research Report: Pelvic floor muscle function after grade II tears—Surface electromyography test–retest and differences between nulliparous and primiparous

This research article explores the reliability of surface electromyography (sEMG) in measuring pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activation in women who have experienced a grade II perineal tear during childbirth.

The study investigates explicitly the test-retest reliability of sEMG and compares PFM activation between nulliparous (women who have never given birth) and primiparous (women who have given birth once).

The authors find that sEMG is reliable for measuring PFM activation in primiparous women with grade II tears. These women have significantly lower PFM activation during rest and maximal voluntary contraction compared to nulliparous women.

This suggests that grade II perineal tears can negatively impact PFM function and potentially contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD).

The study highlights the importance of monitoring PFM function in women with perineal tears. Further research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of these tears on PFM activation and the development of PFD.

https://doi.org/10.1002/nau.25180

#PelvicFloorFunction #PerinealTears #SurfaceEMG #ReliabilityStudy #PFMactivation

Research Report: Test-retest and intrarater reliability of 2-dimensional ultrasound measurements of distance between rectus abdominis in women

This research report investigates the reliability of using ultrasound imaging to measure the distance between the rectus abdominis muscles, a condition known as diastasis recti, which is common among pregnant women and those who have recently given birth.

The study focused on the consistency of measurements made at different times and by the same examiner.

The authors found that ultrasound imaging is a reliable tool for measuring diastasis recti, particularly at rest and during specific abdominal exercises. The reliability is good to very good.

The researchers recommend using ultrasound imaging in future studies to assess diastasis recti accurately changes over time.

https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2012.4115

#DiastasisRecti #UltrasoundReliability #AbdominalMuscles #PostpartumWomen #MeasurementError

Research Report: Prevalence and risk factors of diastasis recti abdominis from late pregnancy to 6 months postpartum, and relationship with lumbo-pelvic pain

This research paper examines the prevalence of diastasis recti abdominis (DRA), a condition characterized by the separation of the abdominal muscles, in first-time pregnant women from late pregnancy until six months postpartum.

The authors sought to identify potential risk factors associated with DRA and determine if DRA was linked to increased lumbo-pelvic pain. Using a longitudinal observational study with ultrasound assessment, they tracked the prevalence of DRA across four measurement points and analyzed various factors, including age, BMI, weight gain, and exercise levels.

While they found a significant decrease in DRA prevalence from late pregnancy to six months postpartum, the study did not reveal any specific risk factors for DRA persistence or a connection between DRA and lumbo-pelvic pain.

The authors acknowledge the limitations of their study, including sample size and the focus on primiparous women, and suggest areas for further investigation, such as examining different anatomical structures and extending the follow-up period.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2014.09.002

#DiastasisRectiAbdominis #Prevalence #RiskFactors #Lumbo-PelvicPain #UltrasoundAssessment #Pregnancy #Postpartum

Research Report: The Immediate Effects on Inter-rectus Distance of Abdominal Crunch and Drawing-in Exercises During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period⁠

This research report investigates the immediate impact of two joint abdominal exercises, the drawing-in and the abdominal crunch, on inter-rectus distance (IRD) in pregnant and postpartum women.

The study, conducted over four time points during pregnancy and postpartum, aimed to determine how these exercises separated the rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba, a condition known as diastasis recti abdominis (DRA).

The researchers used ultrasound imaging to measure IRD at three locations on the linea alba. They found that the abdominal crunch exercise consistently narrowed the IRD, while the drawing-in exercise generally led to a slight widening.

The study highlights the contrasting effects of these exercises on IRD and suggests that the abdominal crunch may be more effective in reducing DRA than the drawing-in exercise.

⁠https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2015.5459

#Pregnancy #Postpartum #AbdominalCrunch #Drawing-in # IRDchanges