Health Outcomes after Pregnancy in Elite Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate postpartum maternal health and training outcomes of females who were competing or training as elite athletes before or during pregnancy. Methods Online databases were searched up to August 26, 2020. Studies of any design and language were eligible if they contained information on the relevant population (postpartum athletes [any period after pregnancy]), exposure (engaged in the highest level of sport immediately before or during pregnancy), comparators (sedentary/active controls), and outcomes: maternal (breastfeeding initiation and duration, postpartum weight retention or loss, bone mineral density, low back or pelvic girdle pain, incontinence [prevalence or severity of stress, urge or mixed urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence], injury, anemia, diastasis recti, breast pain, depression, anxiety) and training (<6 wk time to resume activity, training volume or intensity, performance level). Results Eleven studies (n = 482 females, including 372 elite athletes) were included. We identified "very low" certainty evidence demonstrating a higher rate of return to sport before 6 wk postpartum among elite athletes compared with nonelite athletes (n = 145, odds ratio = 6.93, 95% confidence interval = 2.73-17.63, I-2 = 11). "Very low" certainty evidence from three studies (n = 179) indicated 14 elite athletes obtained injuries postpartum (7 stress fractures, 9 "running injuries"). "Very low" certainty evidence from five studies (n = 262) reported that 101 (40.5%) elite athletes experienced improved performance postpartum. Conclusion Compared with controls, "very low" quality evidence suggests that elite athletes return to physical activity early in the postpartum period and may have an increased risk of injury. Additional high-quality evidence is needed to safely guide return to sport of elite athletes in the postpartum period.