What are the biopsychosocial risk factors associated with pain in postpartum runners? Development of a clinical decision tool

• Published in: PloS one 2021-08, Vol.16 (8), p.e0255383-e0255383
• Main Authors: Christopher, Shefali Mathur, Cook, Chad E, Snodgrass, Suzanne J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; Biomechanics; Bivariate analysis; Breast feeding; Childbirth & labor; Compounding; Compounding effects; COVID-19; Demographic variables; Fatigue; Health aspects; Health risks; Health sciences; Longitudinal studies; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mothers; Multivariate analysis; Pain; Pandemics; Pelvis; Physical Sciences; Physical therapy; Physiology; Postpartum; Postpartum period; Puerperium; Regression analysis; Regression models; Reporting; Research and Analysis Methods; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Runners (Sports); Running; Sleep; Social networks; Statistical analysis; Vagina; Variables; Womens health
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255383

In 2019, a majority of runners participating in running events were female and 49% were of childbearing age. Studies have reported that women are initiating or returning to running after childbirth with up to 35% reporting pain. There are no studies exploring running-related pain or risk factors for this pain after childbirth in runners. Postpartum runners have a variety of biomechanical, musculoskeletal, and physiologic impairments from which to recover from when returning to high impact sports like running, which could influence initiating or returning to running. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with running-related pain in postpartum runners with and without pain. This study also aimed to understand the compounding effects of multiple associative risk factors by developing a clinical decision tool to identify postpartum runners at higher risk for pain. Postpartum runners with at least one child [less than or equal to]36 months who ran once a week and postpartum runners unable to run because of pain, but identified as runners, were surveyed. Running variables (mileage, time to first postpartum run), postpartum variables (delivery type, breastfeeding, incontinence, sleep, fatigue, depression), and demographic information were collected. Risk factors for running-related pain were analyzed in bivariate regression models. Variables meeting criteria (P19 (OR 2.48; 95% CI 1.44, 4.28), previous running injury (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.31, 2.91), vaginal delivery (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.06, 2.50), incontinence (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.31, 2.84) and