Dr. Deering's Pioneering Research Elevates Postpartum Health and Carroll's Reputation

Carroll University’s Dr. Rita Deering, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy, is making a remarkable impact on women’s health through her pioneering research on postpartum exercise and recovery. Her work, which explores how the body changes after childbirth and how exercise can safely support both physical and emotional health, has not only influenced clinical practice but also inspired countless individuals and students alike.

“I am most excited to see the impact that my work has on the general population,” Deering said. “Hearing stories of how my research helps postpartum individuals better understand their bodies and embrace exercise as a positive, safe part of recovery is incredibly humbling and motivating.”

Deering’s research fills critical gaps in scientific understanding surrounding postpartum muscle function and exercise. Until recently, little data existed to guide clinicians and athletes returning to physical activity after childbirth. Deering has helped change that—contributing to landmark studies such as the first peer-reviewed International Delphi consensus statements on returning to running postpartum and chairing the first-ever Physical Therapy Clinical Practice Guideline on Perinatal Diastasis Recti Abdominis.

Her work has garnered widespread recognition, earning her numerous national and international awards, including the 2024 APTA Academy of Pelvic Health Research Award, the 2025 American College of Sports Medicine Pregnancy & Postpartum Special Interest Group Publication Award and Best Oral Presentation at the 2025 Female Athlete Conference for her talk, Getting to the Starting Line: Evidence-Based Recommendations to Navigate Pregnancy and Postpartum.

Most recently, Deering secured a $343,320 NIH R15 Grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)—the first R-series federal grant in Carroll University’s history. Serving as Principal Investigator alongside Co-Investigator Dr. Kimberly Klug, Deering will lead a project examining how supervised postpartum exercise programs influence maternal physical activity and musculoskeletal health. The grant will also fund several student research assistants, offering Carroll students the opportunity to engage directly in cutting-edge, federally funded research.

Deering’s professional achievements directly enrich her teaching and the Carroll learning environment. She integrates her research findings into courses like Neuroscience, Exercise Physiology, and the Women’s Health Advanced Elective, while also mentoring student researchers who present at national and international conferences. “Several of my students have had the opportunity to share their work and learn from leading researchers and clinicians,” she said. “Their success is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.”

Whether publishing in top journals, speaking at global conferences, or guiding the next generation of clinicians, Dr. Rita Deering continues to elevate Carroll University’s reputation as a leader in health sciences education—while making an enduring difference in the lives of postpartum individuals worldwide.