Exercise in Pregnancy: Effect on Fitness and Obstetric Outcomes- A Randomized Trial.

Source

Bradley B Price MD Professional Association, Austin, TX1 George Washington University, Washington, DC 2 NeuroTexas Institute, St. David's Health Care System, Austin, TX 3.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

A prospective randomized controlled trial was designed to assess the benefits and possible risks of aerobic exercise during pregnancy, using a fitness regimen based on the 2002 ACOG guidelines for exercise during pregnancy.

METHODS:

Inactive women were randomized at 12-14 weeks gestation to a group which remained sedentary, or to a group which performed moderate aerobic exercise 45-60 minutes, 4 days per week, through 36 weeks gestation. 31 subjects in each group completed the study.

RESULTS:

Compared to women who remained sedentary, active women improved aerobic fitness (p<.05) and muscular strength (p<.01), delivered comparable size infants with significantly fewer Caesarean deliveries (p<.01), and recovered faster postpartum (p<.05), at least related to the lower incidence of C. section. Active women developed no gestational hypertension (p=0.16 compared to controls) and reported no injuries related to theexercise regimen. In the active group there was one premature birth at 33 weeks by a woman with a past history of premature delivery of twins at 34 weeks. There were no differences between groups in incidence of gestational diabetes, musculoskeletal pains during pregnancy, flexibility on sit-and- reach test, mean length of pregnancy, neonatal Apgar scores, placenta weights, overall length of labor, weight gain during pregnancy, or weight retention postpartum.

CONCLUSION:

Previously sedentary women who began exercising at 12-14 weeks improved fitness and delivery outcomes.

TimAllenMDJD

Wednesday, August 1, 2012