‘ NEAPOLITAN WORKOUTS ’ OFFER HOPE AGAINST SURGING POST-NATAL DEPRESSION
NEW STUDY SUGGESTS POSTPARTUM MOTHERS WHO ENGAGE IN BLENDED WORKOUTS OF CARDIO , STRENGTH AND CORE TRAINING EXPERIENCE DECREASED LEVELS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY .
15 % pre-pandemic . Anxiety is also a growing issue , with 72 % of new moms facing moderate to high anxiety , compared with 29 % previously .
‘ Neapolitan workouts ’ that blend cardio , strength and core training could play an important role in protecting new mothers from soaring levels of post-natal depression and anxiety , new research has found .
A pilot study led by researchers at the University of the Fraser Valley in Canada looked at the impact of regular group exercise among new mothers between six weeks and nine months postpartum .
Over eight weeks , 21 women participated in bi-weekly Les Mills TONE™ classes – 45-minute sessions combining cardio , strength , and core training . Participants had options to vary intensity based on their fitness levels and time since giving birth .
The women reported a significant reduction in state anxiety ( i . e . anxiety in the current moment ). This decreased from an average of 3.6 / 10 ( where 0 was no anxiety ) before each exercise session , to 1.6 / 10 immediately after each session – a decrease of 55 %.
“ At a time when women face significantly increased risk of postpartum mental issues , our research found group exercise proved effective in boosting mental wellbeing for new mothers , helping particularly with acute anxiety and meeting the basic psychological needs that are especially important after childbirth ,” says Lead Researcher Dr Gillian Hatfield , Associate Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley .
“ To maximize physical activity benefits for new mothers , we believe the inclusion of behavioral change support would further enhance the likelihood of longterm exercise adherence . Future research is needed to explore the role socially supportive environments have to play in this ; we also plan to explore the impact other types of workouts can have .”
Bryce Hastings , Les Mills Head of Research , says choosing the right type of exercise is an important factor in helping new moms making a gentle and sustainable return to exercise .
And at the end of the eight weeks , the women reported significantly lower levels of state anxiety than at the start of the program , falling from 3.3 / 10 to 1.9 / 10 – a 42 % decrease .
There were also improvements in depression and perceived stress , with small to moderate effect sizes , but these changes were not statistically significant . As well as feeling more motivated to exercise , the mothers found the classes contributed to their basic psychological needs by increasing feelings of autonomy , competence and perceptions of bonding and relatedness .
Postpartum mental health issues have seen a sharp increase since the start of the pandemic , with 40 % of new mothers now reporting depression , compared with