Informing the innovation and design of activewear for postpartum women

Maintaining an active lifestyle is essential for both physical and mental well-being. However, pregnant and postpartum women encounter unique challenges that can hinder their ability to sustain or resume physical activity. Therefore, it is important to find solutions that support these women in staying physically active. Specific activewear has been shown to increase the general population’s involvement in physical activity, however evidence-backed activewear specifically designed for postpartum women to support physical activity is under researched. Therefore, the primary aim of this research was to inform the innovation and design of activewear for postpartum women.

To achieve this, the facilitators and barriers to physical activity in the perinatal period were identified, with pelvic pain emerging as the most common barrier. Pelvic pain often results from instability in the pelvic region, which can be alleviated by providing targeted compression. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of pelvic compression on postural stability, marking the first study specifically focussed on postpartum women. The results demonstrated that pelvic compression significantly improved measures relating to postural stability.

This research also explored the novel application of material extrusion additive manufacturing for printing directly onto stretch fabrics used in activewear to provide customised compression. The technique was shown to significantly alter the material properties and the compression effects of the fabric. A full-scale pelvic belt was fabricated using these techniques to provide personalised compression, offering a methodological innovation that expands the current capabilities of fabric based additive manufacturing.

This thesis has provided valuable insights into the development of innovative activewear solutions for postpartum women and emphasises the need for better informed product design. This research lays the groundwork for future activewear designs tailored to the unique needs of postpartum women, including targeted pelvic compression to support postural stability.