biostudies-literatureUnknownWoodroffe L<h4>Context</h4>There is little evidence to guide elite athletes who desire returning to competition after giving birth to a child. Ultimately, this can result in decreased performance and increased risk of injury. This paper addresses aspects that must be considered when building and monitoring a return to running program for a postpartum elite or subelite athlete, including pelvic floor and core stability, progressive reloading of the musculoskeletal system, monitoring of nutritional parameters, and considerations for lactation.<h4>Evidence acquisition</h4>PubMed and CINAHL (Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature) were searched with the following search strategy: (extreme sports OR elite athletes OR running OR exercise) AND (breastfeeding OR lactation OR bone density OSports health19417381241256973https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11569573biostudies-literatureReturn to Running for Postpartum Elite and Subelite Athletes.PMC11569573Hall MMancuso AWoodroffe LPaulson AKruse NSlayman TfalseReturn to Running for Postpartum Elite and Subelite Athletes.<h4>Context</h4>There is little evidence to guide elite athletes who desire returning to competition after giving birth to a child. Ultimately, this can result in decreased performance and increased risk of injury. This paper addresses aspects that must be considered when building and monitoring a return to running program for a postpartum elite or subelite athlete, including pelvic floor and core stability, progressive reloading of the musculoskeletal system, monitoring of nutritional parameters, and considerations for lactation.<h4>Evidence acquisition</h4>PubMed and CINAHL (Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature) were searched with the following search strategy: (extreme sports OR elite athletes OR running OR exercise) AND (breastfeeding OR lactation OR bone density O2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jun2025-04-04T00:47:48.718Z2025-04-04T00:47:48.718ZS-EPMC115695733886428510.1177/19417381241256973