Integrating postpartum return to play guidelines in contact sport

The increasing participation of women in contact sports such as rugby league has highlighted a critical gap in structured, evidence-informed support for athlete-mothers returning to play postpartum. Traditional return-to-sport models often fail to address the complex biopsychosocial challenges of this transition. Siobhan Shirlaw APAM is a physiotherapist who graduated from The University of Queensland in 2013. She has a wide range of sporting physiotherapy experience, having worked with international volleyball, netball, basketball and rhythmic gymnastics teams. She is currently the head physio for the Qld Reds Super W team.