Physical activity mHealth tailored to postpartum individuals with lumbopelvic pain
Date
2026
Authors
Hollman, Heather
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Abstract
Background: Postpartum moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) is essential for the health of the birth parent, their future pregnancies, and their children. Unfortunately, over 55% of postpartum individuals are not meeting recommended MVPA guidelines and face significant barriers to MVPA participation such as lack of childcare, sleep, and time. Up to 67% of postpartum individuals suffer from lumbopelvic pain (LPP) which can affect their ability to be active. Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) have great potential for promoting MVPA amongst postpartum individuals; however, those currently available lack quality and evidence-based recommendations and have limited effectiveness and engagement.
Objectives: To design and develop an evidence-based, acceptable, usable, feasible, scalable, and low-cost MVPA promotion mHealth app tailored to postpartum individuals with LPP. A series of three studies, following the IDEAS (Integrate, Design, Assess, and Share) framework, were conducted to meet this overarching objective.
Methods: This proposal consists of six chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction with a brief overview of the background literature and dissertation objectives. Chapter 2 provides a more thorough background literature review. Chapter 3 is a systematic review of mediators of postpartum PA behaviour change interventions. Chapter 4 is a cross-sectional study to determine predictors of MVPA intention-PA translation among postpartum individuals. Chapter 5 is a co-design study, in partnership with key knowledge users (i.e., individuals with lived expertise of postpartum LPP and healthcare providers) to tailor a previously existing theory-informed and evidence-based MVPA promotion mHealth app to postpartum individuals with LPP. Chapter 6 is a general discussion to synthesize the findings of the aforementioned three studies and make suggestions for future directions.
Significance: The findings of this research program illuminates the unique barriers, needs, and considerations for MVPA and mHealth when intervening with postpartum individuals with LPP. They also inform future large scale trials with the ultimate intents of optimizing health and reducing chronic disease for postpartum individuals themselves, their future pregnancies, and their children.
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Keywords
postpartum period, exercise, physical activity, systematic review, mediation analysis, behavior and behavior mechanisms, pelvic girdle pain, low back pain, intention-behavior gap, knowledge user engagement, co-design, behavior change intervention, digital health, mobile health