Exercise and Sporting Activity During Pregnancy

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. She is Coordinator of the Master Degree in Physical Activity in Special Populations 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. Deputy Director of the Research Unit of IPSantarém, Professor Santos Rocha has being involved in several research projects funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and other National and European bodies. Her research interests are focused on gait biomechanics and the effects of exercise programs on pregnant women, and other 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 holds a seat on the Scientific Board of the Gymnastics Federation of Portugal, and has being collaborating with the Professional Standards Committee of EuropeActive (former European Health & Fitness Association) since 2010.