FIFA's New Postpartum Guidelines Are a Win for Every Active Mom

By AntiFragile Physical Therapy

Elite athletes often influence the future of sports medicine, and this time, the impact reaches far beyond professional soccer.

FIFA recently released Stepping into Play, an evidence based return to play roadmap designed to help soccer players safely return to sport after childbirth. One of its biggest updates? Pelvic floor health is now a built in part of the return to play process, not an afterthought.

While these guidelines were created for elite footballers, they reinforce something pelvic health physical therapists have known for years. Every woman deserves a thoughtful, individualized plan for returning to exercise after having a baby.

Whether your goal is running your first postpartum 5K, getting back to strength training, hiking your favorite trails, chasing your kids around the backyard, or simply feeling like yourself again, the same principles apply.

What FIFA Got Right

One of the most significant updates in FIFA's new guidance is the inclusion of a dedicated pelvic floor screening before athletes progress back into higher levels of activity.

If an athlete reports symptoms such as leaking urine, pelvic heaviness, pelvic pain, or pressure, the recommendation is clear. Talk with a healthcare provider, such as a pelvic floor physical therapist, before returning to full training.

That may seem like a small change, but it represents a major step forward.

For years, many women have been told that these symptoms are simply "part of having a baby." While they are common, they are not something you have to accept as your new normal. They are signs that your body may benefit from additional support before returning to higher-impact activities.

By making pelvic floor health a standard checkpoint, FIFA is helping normalize conversations around postpartum recovery and emphasizing that these symptoms deserve attention, not dismissal.

Here's Why Every Active Mom Should Care

You do not have to be preparing for the World Cup to benefit from these recommendations.

The physical demands of running after your toddler, training for a marathon, returning to CrossFit, joining a recreational soccer league, or carrying groceries all require your core, hips, and pelvic floor to work together.

Your body deserves the same thoughtful progression that FIFA now recommends for its elite athletes.

One of the reasons this new framework is so valuable is that it recognizes postpartum recovery is about more than physical healing. The decision aid also screens for:

• Pelvic floor symptoms

• Abdominal wall function, including concerns like diastasis recti

• Fear of movement or reinjury

• Mental and emotional readiness

• Overall physical function

Recovery after childbirth is about much more than waiting six weeks for your postpartum checkup. Every woman heals differently, and feeling ready to move does not always mean your body is ready for the demands of running, jumping, lifting, or other high-impact activities.

Recovery Is More Than a Six-Week Clearance

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding postpartum recovery is that you are either "cleared" or "not cleared."

FIFA's new roadmap recognizes that recovery is not that simple.

Instead of relying on a single green light from a healthcare provider, the framework outlines seven progressive stages that help athletes safely return to sport based on how their body responds. Each stage includes criteria for moving forward or taking a step back if symptoms arise.

This approach mirrors how we care for our patients at AntiFragile Physical Therapy.

Whether you are returning to pickleball, training for your next race, easing back into strength training, or simply hoping to move through your day without discomfort, our goal is not just to get you back to activity as quickly as possible. It is to help you return feeling strong, confident, and prepared for the life you want to live.

How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help

Pelvic floor physical therapy is about much more than treating leakage.

A comprehensive evaluation looks at how your entire body works together, including:

• Pelvic floor muscle strength, coordination, and endurance

• Core function and pressure management

• Abdominal wall recovery

• Hip and trunk strength

• Breathing mechanics

• Movement patterns during activities such as squatting, lifting, running, and jumping

  
  

From there, your physical therapist develops an individualized plan that matches your goals and helps you safely build back to the activities you love.

Every Mom Deserves a Game Plan

Chances are, you are not training for the World Cup. But you are training for your life.

You are lifting a car seat dozens of times a day. Carrying a toddler on one hip. Going for family hikes. Returning to your morning runs. Signing up for your next race. Taking your favorite fitness class. Playing in a recreational sports league. Simply wanting to move through your day without pain or hesitation.

Those goals deserve the same attention to movement quality, strength, and recovery that elite athletes receive.

FIFA's new guidelines are an exciting reminder that pelvic floor health is not just for professional soccer players. It is an essential part of helping every active mom return to the activities she loves with confidence.

At AntiFragile Physical Therapy, we believe every woman deserves a recovery plan that is built around her body, her goals, and her lifestyle. Whether you are newly postpartum or years removed from childbirth and still experiencing symptoms, it is never too early or too late to prioritize your pelvic health.

If you are ready to return to movement with confidence, Annie is here to help you build a plan that is designed specifically for you. You can learn more about our Pelvic Floor PT approach here. 

Ready to take action? Book A Pelvic Health Appointment with Annie!

Sources:

Brockwell E, Dufour S, Casagrande I, Davenport MH. Stepping into Play: A FIFA decision aid for football participation after childbirth. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2026.

Davenport MH, Meah VL, Ruchat SM, et al. 2019 Canadian Guideline for Physical Activity Throughout Pregnancy.British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2018;52(21):1339–1346.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Physical Activity and Exercise During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period. Committee Opinion No. 804. Reaffirmed 2023.

American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy. Clinical resources on postpartum rehabilitation and pelvic floor physical therapy.

Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy. Returning to Running Postnatal Guidelines. First published 2019. This guidance has become one of the most widely referenced return to running frameworks for postpartum women.