FIFA Decision Aid Standardizes Pregnancy Management in Football

Pregnancy introduces complex physiological and anatomical shifts that require precise clinical navigation, particularly when managing active patients who face unique environmental risks [1]. While global health metrics indicate a steady decline in age-standardized disability rates among younger populations, the management of specific life stages like pregnancy remains a high-priority area for primary care and sports medicine [2]. Standardized reporting and evidence-based protocols are essential for ensuring that clinical advice remains consistent, transparent, and reproducible across different healthcare settings [3, 4]. However, the absence of sport-specific frameworks often leaves clinicians to rely on generalized exercise guidelines that may not account for the specific mechanical and contact risks associated with team sports. To address this clinical gap, researchers have developed a structured decision aid to evaluate the safety of football participation throughout the gestational period.