FSHP Academy
Women’s Health — all lessons

Anatomy and Physiology

Pelvic floor anatomyUnderstanding the menstrual cyclePhysiological changes before and after pregnancy

Life-Stage and Hormonal Conditions

MenopauseOsteoporosisPCOSThyroid disordersHormonal imbalance: what exercise can and cannot doExercise guidelines: step-by-step prescription

Prenatal Exercise

Contraindications and precautions of prenatal exercisePrenatal exercise prescriptionFirst trimester: strengthening and stretchingSecond trimester: strengthening and stretchingThird trimester: strengthening and stretching

Postnatal Exercise

Postnatal evaluation and abdominal rehabilitationBenefits of postnatal exercise for mother and childPostnatal risks and contraindicationsC-section: post-op management and precautionsPostnatal exercise prescription

Exercise guidelines: step-by-step prescription

A step-by-step process for prescribing exercise to women across life stages — screening, goals, FITT, pelvic floor considerations and progression.

Advanced Evidence: Established consensus 3 min read Reviewed 2026-10-31 Status: draft

Learning objectives

  • Apply a step-by-step prescription process
  • Adjust prescription across life stages
  • Integrate pelvic floor and bone health
  • Monitor and progress safely

Before this lesson

Why this matters

A structured process ensures safety and relevance across very different life stages.

Steps

  1. Screen: health, medications, pregnancy/postnatal status, cycle, pelvic floor symptoms.
  2. Goals: what matters to the client.
  3. FITT: 150–300 min/week aerobic; 2+ strength days [bull2020].
  4. Life-stage adjustments:
StageAdditions
Reproductive ageCycle-aware flexibility, energy availability
PregnancyClearance, RPE, modifications
PostnatalPelvic floor, graded return
MenopauseResistance + impact for bone [daly2019]
  1. Pelvic floor: routinely ask; refer if symptomatic; PFMT is effective [dumoulin2018].
  2. Monitor and progress: review every 4–6 weeks.

Common mistakes and misconceptions

Case study

A trainer adds two sensitive screening questions about leaking and periods to intake forms. Several clients disclose symptoms and are referred, improving their training experience.

Further learning: video lessons

Video links are only marked “verified” after a human has watched them. Unverified entries open a YouTube search for that channel and topic rather than a guessed link.

Introductory needs verification — opens a YouTube search

Exercise guidelines: step-by-step prescription

pelvic-health physiotherapists and women’s health clinicians (search)

You will understand: exercise guidelines: step-by-step prescription

Why: Clinician-led content; verify the specific video.
Introductory needs verification — opens a YouTube search

Exercise guidelines explained

professional bodies (search, e.g. ACOG, CSEP, RCOG)

You will understand: current guideline recommendations

Why: Clinician-led content; verify the specific video.

Knowledge check

Knowledge check · 0/5

1. Step 1 of prescription is…

Answer B. Assessment first.

2. General guidance for adults includes…

Answer A. WHO.

3. For bone health, include…

Answer B. Bone loading.

4. Pelvic floor symptoms should be…

Answer B. Routine.

5. A good progression approach is…

Answer B. Regular review.

Short-answer & application questions

  1. Write a prescription for a 35-year-old postnatal client.
  2. Adapt the process for menopause.
  3. Create sensitive screening questions.

Key takeaways

  • Start with screening, life stage, symptoms and goals.
  • Follow general FITT guidance, adding resistance and impact for bone where appropriate.
  • Ask about pelvic floor symptoms routinely and sensitively.
  • Review and progress regularly.

Connected topics

womens health

Prenatal exercise prescription

womens health

Postnatal exercise prescription

personal training

Integrated exercise programming: from evidence to practice

References

  1. Bull FC, Al-Ansari SS, Biddle S, et al. (2020). World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(24):1451–1462. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955 Guideline check pending
  2. Daly RM, Dalla Via J, Duckham RL, Fraser SF, Helge EW (2019). Exercise for the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: an evidence-based guide to the optimal prescription. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 23(2):170–180. Narrative review check pending
  3. Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC (2018). Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD005654. Systematic review check pending

Educational content only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis or treatment.