Giving birth weakens and often injures the pelvic floor. Amongst postnatal runners, musculoskeletal pain, incontinence, abdominal separation and pelvic organ prolapse are prevalent. Running is a high impact sport that increases the risk of pelvic floor dysfunction after giving birth.

These guidelines were the first to focus on how to return to run safely after vaginal and instrumental childbirth. The authors developed assessments to evaluate readiness to return to running and provide guidance on impact management, on how additional factors should be considered, goals and a graded programme to start running.