ACTIVE PREGNANCY: Workshop on Promotion of Physical Activity in Pregnancy for Exercise Professionals

Rita Santos-Rocha,1,2 Simona Pajaujiene,3 Anna Szumilewicz4 1Department of Physical Activity and Health, Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior (ESDRM), Polytechnic Institute of Santarém (IPSANTAREM), Rio Maior, Portugal; 2Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics (FMH), University of Lisbon, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal; 3Department of Coaching Science, Lituanian Sport University, Kaunas, Lithuania; 4Department of Fitness, Faculty of Physical Culture, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, PolandCorrespondence: Rita Santos-Rocha, Email ritasantosrocha@esdrm.ipsantarem.ptIntroduction: A one-day workshop on promotion of physical activity in pregnancy for exercise professionals was delivered during 2021, to 137 participants. The main aim of this workshop was to motivate and prepare exercise professionals for promoting physical activity and implementing prenatal exercise programs, in their respective private or public fitness centers or other physical activity settings.Methods: The contents of the workshop were focused on six topics based on the “Pregnancy and Postpartum Exercise Specialist” educational standards by EuropeActive and the “Exercise and Physical Activity during Pregnancy and Postpartum” textbook published by Springer. Participants provided feedback on the effectiveness and satisfaction with the workshop.Results: Overall evaluations from the feedback forms showed that majority of the participants agreed that the workshop achieved its objectives with a major recommendation as to the organization of more short duration workshops, the inclusion of practical sessions, and the separation of the contents addressing the postpartum period.Discussion: The workshop on promotion of physical activity in pregnancy for exercise professionals was successfully organized and the participants are looking forward for future ones.Keywords: workshop, exercise prof