In this episode of Just Between Us … and Science: The Women’s Health Lab, Dr. Patrícia Mota sits down with Nina Theodorsen, researcher and clinician in women’s and pelvic health, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in pregnancy and postpartum care: exercise, diastasis recti, and fear of movement.

Together, they explore how many women are still told to avoid movement during and after pregnancy — often without strong scientific evidence — and how this language can create unnecessary fear and disconnection from the body.

Nina shares her journey into women’s health, how clinical experience shaped her research questions, and what current evidence really says about exercising during pregnancy. The conversation highlights why empowering women to move, strengthening rather than avoiding the body, and using precise, compassionate language matters — for both patients and clinicians.

This episode is for pregnant and postpartum women, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in evidence-based women’s health.

🎧 Brought to you by Eleva.care

Topics Covered

• Diastasis recti and exercise — what the research actually shows
• Why fear of movement is still so common in pregnancy
• How clinical language shapes women’s confidence and body image
• The role of clinicians in translating research into real care
• Why collaboration and high-quality research matter in women’s health

Chapters

00:00 Intro — Welcome to Just Between Us … and Science
03:23 Introducing Nina Theodorsen
04:19 Nina’s Path Into Women’s & Pelvic Health
07:04 Political Advocacy in Women’s Health
09:35 Mentorship, Research & Academic Growth
17:18 Research Findings on Diastasis and Exercise
21:54 Fear of Movement in Pregnant Women
26:48 Studying Exercise Effects During Pregnancy
29:56 Challenging Misconceptions About Diastasis
31:16 How Language Shapes Fear and Confidence
34:55 Embracing Body Changes After Pregnancy
38:24 Encouraging Strength Training in Pregnancy
40:41 Why Guidelines on Exercise Need Updating
44:55 Research Quality and Clinical Practice
48:07 Evaluating Evidence as a Clinician
50:57 Evidence-Based Recommendations for Women
52:53 Clinicians as Bridges Between Research & Care
54:15 Addressing Fear and Empowering Movement
55:24 How Clinical Experience Shapes Research
56:37 Future Directions in Women’s Health Research
58:04 Advice for Pregnant Women & Clinicians
59:41 Encouragement for Women in Science
60:29 Upcoming Women’s Health Conference in Oslo
61:40 Outro — Final Reflections & Goodbye

In this premiere episode of Just Between Us (and Science): The Women’s Health Lab, host Dr. Patrícia Mota sits down with Dr. Rubén Barakat, professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and one of the world’s leading researchers in maternal exercise science.

They explore how movement transforms pregnancy — physically, mentally, and socially — and why collaboration between physiotherapists, exercise professionals, and medical teams is crucial for the future of women’s health.

Dr. Barakat shares the story behind the Barakat Model, decades of research on prenatal exercise, and the impact of evidence-based practice on depression, hypertension, macrosomia, and postpartum recovery.

This episode challenges myths about rest during pregnancy and reminds us that movement is medicine — when guided by science and empathy.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Exercise during pregnancy improves both physical and mental health.
• The Barakat Model promotes collaboration across disciplines.
• Supervised exercise can reduce prenatal and postpartum depression.
• Movement helps prevent urinary incontinence and gestational hypertension.
• Technology can help bring evidence-based health education to more women.
• Rest is not the solution — movement is medicine.

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  👤 About the Guest

  Dr. Rubén Barakat

  Professor of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.

  Founder of the Barakat Model, integrating exercise science, physiotherapy, and obstetrics to improve maternal outcomes.

  Recognized globally for his research on exercise during pregnancy, mental health, and well-being.

  
  

  🤝 About the Host

  Dr. Patrícia Mota, PT, PhD

  Physiotherapist, researcher, and educator passionate about bridging science and daily life.

  Host of Just Between Us (and Science) — a podcast exploring hormones, pregnancy, pelvic health, recovery, and how women can stay active through every stage of life.

  
  

  📅 Chapters

  00:00 🎵 Hooks, Intro & Sponsor Message — "Just Between Us (and Science)"

  03:43 📘 Introduction & Context — Dr. Patrícia Mota and Dr. Rubén Barakat

  07:24 🧠 Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Research — Building bridges between professionals

  15:20 🤝 Exercise Professionals & Physiotherapists — How teamwork improves maternal care

  20:57 🔬 Evidence-Based Impact — What science says about movement and pregnancy outcomes

  27:26 💭 Mental Health & Pregnancy — How exercise protects emotional well-being

  35:53 🧩 The Barakat Model — A framework for active, safe pregnancies

  46:56 📋 Clinical Guidelines — Exercise prescription and recommendations

  51:32 ⚠️ Misinformation & Myths — What social media gets wrong about pregnancy

  59:28 📱 Technology & Support — How digital tools can empower pregnant women

  01:04:24 🌿 Practical Advice & Closing Thoughts — Movement as medicine for mothers

  01:09:00 🎧 Outro — Reflections, call to action, and upcoming episodes

  
  

  🎧 Presented by Eleva.care

  Eleva.care is a digital platform redefining how women connect with physiotherapy, obstetrics, and wellness experts — from pregnancy to recovery and beyond.

  
  💻 Learn more at eleva.care