Exercise and Physical Activity During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Rita Santos Rocha is Associate Professor at the Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior (ESDRM) – Polytechnic Institute of Santarém (IPSantarém), Portugal, that she supervised as Director between 2011 and 2015, and as President of the Scientific Board between 2018 and 2022. She is Coordinator of the Master Degree in Physical Activity and Health and Professor of the Bachelor Degree in Sport, Fitness & Health (ESDRM), in Exercise Testing and Prescription, and Public Health and Physical Activity. Researcher of the Neuromechanics of Human Movement Group of CIPER (Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance) – Faculty of Human Kinetics (FMH) – University of Lisbon. Professor Santos Rocha research interests are focused on gait biomechanics and the effects of physical activity and exercise programs on health and fitness parameters of pregnant and postpartum women, and other special populations. She was the leader of the EuropeActive’s Educational Standards for the Pregnancy and Postnatal Exercise Specialist published in 2016, which refers to European Qualification Framework. Professor Santos Rocha has been collaborating with the Professional Standards Committee of EuropeActive (former European Health & Fitness Association) since 2010, with the Scientific Board of the Gymnastics Federation of Portugal since 2006, and she was a founder member of the Portuguese Association of Exercise Physiologists (APFE) in 2018. In the past, she worked as a fitness instructor, gymnastics and physical education teacher, and exercise physiologist, with people from 2 to 92 years old, including pregnant and postpartum women. She continues to work in the fitness industry as a training provider and supervisor of exercise professionals and students.  She holds a BSc in Sports Sciences (1996), a MSc in Exercise and Health (2000), and a PhD in Human Movement – Health and Fitness (2006).