Tamara Rial-Faigenbaum, Ph.D., specialist professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, was an invited keynote speaker at the III International Conference GIS FRPP on Knowledge and Beliefs in Pelvic Health and Physiotherapy, held May 23–24 in Naples, Italy.
The conference, organized by the Specialist Interest Group in Physiotherapy and Pelvic Health (GIS A.I.FI), brought together several leading experts from around the world to share the latest research and clinical practices in pelvic health rehabilitation.
Rial-Faigenbaum delivered a magistral lecture, “Knowledge and Beliefs about Resistance Training during Pregnancy,” drawing from two recent scholarly contributions; “Evidence of Resistance Training During Pregnancy” (POGP Journal, Spring 2025), and “A Strong Approach for Overcoming the FoRE: Fear of Resistance Exercise,” published in the American College of Sports Medicine Health & Fitness Journal.
Her presentation addressed persistent misconceptions surrounding, and highlighted the evidence supporting, the safe and effective implementation of resistance training throughout the perinatal period. She discussed current guidelines for exercise prescription, the role of misinformation, and the need to shift cultural narratives surrounding strength training in pregnancy.
Her ongoing research aims to dismantle psychological and systemic barriers for training pregnant individuals by promoting evidence-based strategies. Through continued collaborations with international researchers and health professionals, Rial-Faigenbaum is committed to advancing female-specific health disparities in exercise science across the lifespan.