“BIRTH IS LIKE A MARATHON” REVISITING CHILDBIRTH BY USING SPORT BIOMECHANICS APPROACHES

Abstract

Childbirth is a sport according to women who have experienced it. The physiological demand of this specific sport activity is indeed close to what is measured in many other sport activities. From a biomechanical point of view, it also seems possible to consider childbirth as a sport activity that can be optimized. After explaining how childbirth is similar to a sport activity, we will present the methodology and preliminary results of an innovative approach in delivery biomechanics. A biomechanical analysis of childbirth as performed in many sport activities seems to be appropriate in order to optimize some parameters of this sport activity so special in a lifetime.