At The World's No. 1 Sports University

We're rethinking the science of pregnancy and performance

“Can I exercise while I’m pregnant?”

Staying active during pregnancy is good for mothers and their babies.

Regular exercise improves maternal health and wellbeing, reduces the risk of complications and prepares the body for labour. It also supports the baby’s healthy development.

But many expectant mothers are less active than guidelines recommend. Research suggests that more than half are physically inactive, and less than 30% meet standard exercise guidelines.

A similar picture emerges for postpartum women.

Loughborough University’s Research Institute for Women in Sport is tackling some of the biggest challenges facing all women across sport and exercise, from health and participation to representation and performance.

At the heart of the Institute's work are lived experience and empathy. The researchers work with female participants who understand these issues firsthand. Together, they are driving innovation to make exercise a more accessible and inclusive lifelong activity for women.

What influences activity during pregnancy?

Many women are unsure what exercise is right for them during pregnancy. Some find exercise uncomfortable, even impossibly painful.

Those who do try to be active sometimes encounter other barriers – including a lack of time, clothing that doesn’t fit or support them comfortably, equipment and environments that don’t accommodate their changing bodies, and negative social attitudes.

A lack of knowledge around the impacts of moderate to intense activity during pregnancy hampers medical professionals and fitness professionals as they try to offer advice.

By addressing these challenges, our researchers are helping more women to enjoy the benefits of being active – before, during and after pregnancy.

For example, our recent research suggests that short bursts of activity throughout the day may help pregnant women overcome some of these challenges.

Can advanced technologies help women to be active?

Well-designed sportswear supports performance, safety and comfort during exercise. Some companies design clothing specifically for pregnant and postpartum women. However, not all brands do, and many women say that they “just make do” or don’t exercise at all.

Pelvic pain alongside fear of movement and falling are among the reasons women give for not exercising during pregnancy and after giving birth.

While sportswear is constantly evolving, maternity wear has largely stood still. There is a significant knowledge gap when it comes to designing for pregnant and postpartum women.

By listening to women's experiences and including them in the research from the outset, we are helping to ensure that future designs better meet the pregnant wearers’ needs.

Advanced technologies like 3D motion capture allow us to observe the effects of exercise on pregnant bodies. We’ve already assessed how a woman’s gait changes during pregnancy and understand how changing biomechanics affects movement, comfort and injury risk. We will soon be exploring how their bumps move during different activities.

Our data can help clothing designers to create maternity sportswear that better supports active women as their bodies change through the trimesters.

For example, we’ve discovered that compression applied to specific areas of the pelvis offer stability and support. Using our 3D printing expertise, we’ve created clothing and pelvic compression belts that alleviate discomfort, increase balance and reduce the risk of falls – helping women to feel safer as they exercise.

Why do sport innovators thrive with us?

Much of our work around sports product design – clothing, footwear and equipment – is led by our doctoral researchers. They bring new perspectives, challenge long-held assumptions, and pioneer new knowledge, driving innovation.

Our unique sport ecosystem provides them with a progressive environment in which to thrive. Loughborough University’s campus is a catalyst for transdisciplinary research teams to collaborate, applying their extensive and diverse knowledge to a range of challenges within sport.

Supported by these internationally renowned researchers and with access to state-of-the-art facilities, our students have everything they need to think differently and develop groundbreaking innovations. They also have access to a diverse demographic with whom to test their ideas, including the elite athletes who choose to train with us.

From pioneering research to product development, our students graduate ready to turn extraordinary ideas into real-world impact.

Do women give up coaching during motherhood?

We are working with the Lawn Tennis Association and the Female Coaching Network to explore the experiences of tennis and padel coaches as they move through pregnancy and motherhood.

Our research aims to better understand the challenges and barriers women experience while balancing coaching careers with family life.

Insights from the study will help inform future policies and resources, creating a more inclusive and sustainable coaching environment for women.

“Decisions about support are often made without fully understanding the experiences of the people they are intended to help. We want to help shape guidance that is informed by the realities of coaching and motherhood, based on the voices of the women themselves.”
Professor Leanne Norman Director of the Loughborough University Research Institute for Women in Sport

Medals or motherhood – or both?

Elite athletes can face financial and career setbacks because of their decision to start a family.

Things are changing, but this situation is symptomatic of attitudes towards women – within and beyond sport.

Our research has also examined the experiences of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and helped shape UK Sport’s official pregnancy guidance for athletes, their partners, coaches and sport governing bodies.

The guidance equips sports organisations to better support athletes during pregnancy, recognising that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

“We’re really pleased that our research contributed to the development of UK Sport’s pregnancy guidance. It’s an important step forward in supporting female athlete well-being.”
Dr Emma Pullen Reader in Social Science and Sport

Helping women to stay active for life

Part of the Research Institute’s mission is to empower women to take part in physical activity at every stage of their lives.

One of its many strengths is its multidisciplinary approach. It brings together experts in sport science, health, design and engineering who have firsthand experience of many of the challenges they are researching.

As leaders in their respective fields, the team can relate directly to the women participating in their studies, bringing a perspective that remains rare in a predominantly male world.

Together, they are driving innovation in product development, creating clothing and equipment shaped by women's experiences and designed to help them participate more comfortably, confidently, and safely.

Their work is also raising awareness of the barriers women face in sport and exercise, encouraging them to share their experiences to drive positive change.

These advances are helping to create a future where every woman has the aspiration, support and opportunity to be active – on her own terms.

“Working closely with those exercising recreationally, athletes, coaches, policymakers and industry leaders, we’re helping to shape the future of women’s sport. Our goal is simple – to ensure that every woman can enjoy being active at every stage of her life.”
Dr Aimee Mears Senior Lecturer in Sports Engineering and Biomechanics