Rita Santos Rocha is Associate Professor at the Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior (ESDRM) - Polytechnic Institute of Santarém (IPSantarém), Portugal, that she supervised as Director between 2011 and 2015, and as President of the Scientific Board between 2018 and 2022. She is Coordinator of the Master Degree in Physical Activity and Health and Professor of the Bachelor Degree in Sport, Fitness & Health (ESDRM), in Exercise Testing and Prescription, and Public Health and Physical Activity. Researcher of the Neuromechanics of Human Movement Group of CIPER (Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance) - Faculty of Human Kinetics (FMH) - University of Lisbon.

Professor Santos Rocha research interests are focused on gait biomechanics and the effects of physical activity and exercise programs on health and fitness parameters of pregnant and postpartum women, and other special populations. She was the leader of the EuropeActive's Educational Standards for the Pregnancy and Postnatal Exercise Specialist published in 2016, which refers to European Qualification Framework. Professor Santos Rocha has been collaborating with the Professional Standards Committee of EuropeActive (former European Health & Fitness Association) since 2010, with the Scientific Board of the Gymnastics Federation of Portugal since 2006, and she was a founder member of the Portuguese Association of Exercise Physiologists (APFE) in 2018.

In the past, she worked as a fitness instructor, gymnastics and physical education teacher, and exercise physiologist, with people from 2 to 92 years old, including pregnant and postpartum women. She continues to work in the fitness industry as a training provider and supervisor of exercise professionals and students.

1. Physical Activity, Exercise and Health Promotion for the Pregnant Exerciser.- 2. Psychological, Social and Behavioural Changes during Pregnancy. Implications for Physical Activity and Exercise.- 3. Physiological Changes during Pregnancy. Main Adaptations and Discomforts and Implications for Physical Activity and Exercise.- 4. Body Composition Changes during Pregnancy and Effects of Physical Exercise.- 5. Biomechanical Adaptations of Gait in Pregnancy. Implications for Physical Activity and Exercise.- 6. Specific Musculoskeletal Adaptations in Pregnancy: pelvic floor, abdominal muscles, pelvic girdle, and lower back. Implications for physical activity and exercise.- 7. Evidence-Based and Practice-Oriented Guidelines for Exercising during Pregnancy.- 8. Exercise Testing and Prescription in pregnancy.- 9. Exercise Selection and Adaptations during Pregnancy.- 10. Exercise prescription and adaptations in early postpartum. 11.Strengthening competences of future healthcare professionals to promote physical activity during pregnancy and post-partum.- 12. Therapeutic Exercise regarding Musculoskeletal Health of the Pregnant Exerciser and Athlete.- 13. Nutritional and energy Requirements for the Pregnant Exerciser and Athlete.- 14. Diet Recommendations for the Pregnant Exerciser and Athlete.- (new chapters, not included in the first edition, are highlighted in bold).