Sports during and after pregnancy: why physical exercise and activity make sense and what women should be aware of

Working together with the Department of Obstetrics at the Zurich University Hospital (Head of Department: Prof. Dr. R. Zimmermann; Contact person at USZ: Dr. N. Kimmich), we are the go-to place for expertise related to all questions of pregnancy and sport or exercise. It covers the whole range from the possibility of using sport/exercise as therapy to questions of sport from amateur and professional athletes.

In co-operation with the PEBS association and buggyfit.ch, we offer fitness courses that are precisely tailored to pregnancy. At least 2.5 hours of exercise a week is recommended during pregnancy, starting already in early pregnancy.

Our courses include endurance and strength training as well as relaxation and stretching exercises and are aimed at all pregnant women from the 13th week of pregnancy. It is important to us that mothers-to-be are able to exchange ideas and receive interdisciplinary care at our centre.

Gym during pregnancy

Advice after pregnancy and postnatal recovery in an individual setting

Immediately after the birth, the focus is on regeneration and recovery, which we can actively support. As a result, you will be fit again more quickly for your new everyday life with baby and we can prevent physical and psychological complaints.

More about the offer

Treatment of hormonal disorders (including RED-S and ‘female athlete triad’)

Working together with the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology (Head of Department: Prof. Dr. B. Imthurn), we can answer all questions related to hormonal imbalance in athletes and contraception, at the highest level.

Sex-specific mechanisms of injury

Knowledge and findings from research in elite sports can be translated to the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries in any sportswoman.

Use of sport as therapy in gynecologic cancers

Following our credo of ‘Sport as Therapy’, movement training helps patients to better tolerate chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy, both physically and mentally. In addition, it promotes healing and lowers the risk of recurrence. Cooperation with the Department of Gynecology at the USZ (Head of Department: Prof. Dr. D. Fink) and resident colleagues, we are the go-to place for expertise related to all questions on cancer and sport. In addition, our individual cancer rehabilitation program offers the possibility of structured training to obtain optimal results.

Pelvic floor examination and therapy

The pelvic floor is still a taboo subject today, but with the help of scientific findings about its importance and function in the human body, it is increasingly coming to the fore.

At the University Centre for Prevention and Sports Medicine, we not only want to provide women with therapeutic support for pelvic floor-related complaints, but also to maintain a healthy pelvic floor as a preventative measure. To this end, we (Dr Nora Wieloch) support women during their pregnancy, in the event of stress on the pelvic floor due to sporting or professional activity or other musculoskeletal complaints that may be related to pelvic floor problems.

In addition to a pelvic floor examination, we offer specific pelvic floor physiotherapy. This includes behavioural measures, biofeedback and electrostimulation, active training and manual techniques. After a detailed discussion and explanation of the examination and therapy techniques, an individualised treatment plan is drawn up.

You can find out more about possible indications and requirements for the therapy in our flyer.

My pelvic floor - not a taboo subject (PDF, in German)