Redefining recovery: Closing the perinatal technology gap for athlete-mothers

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Perinatal Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• Pregnancy and postpartum are significant biopsychosocial transitions for athlete-mothers.
• Wearable technologies, often calibrated for non-pregnant individuals, may misinterpret normative perinatal physiological changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight how wearable devices can influence athlete-mothers' identity and mental health.
• To propose a framework for recalibrating wearable technology for the perinatal period.

Main Methods:

• Clinical commentary and proposal of a new framework.
• Emphasis on integrating perinatal-specific data and psychological insights.

Main Results:

• Wearable devices can act as interpretive systems shaping identity and mental health.
• A recalibrated framework can enhance wearable technology's utility for athlete-mothers.

Conclusions:

• Wearable technology design requires recalibration to include perinatal-specific reference ranges and psychological support.
• Longitudinal research is crucial to understand athlete-mothers' physiological trajectories and improve adaptive recovery support.