This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare maternal cardiopulmonary and fetal responses
of lowlander pregnant women in the third trimester to exercise at sea level and at
an altitude of 6000 feet.
STUDY DESIGN: Seven women at 33.86 ± 1 weeks' gestation performed a symptom-limited maximal exercise
test and a submaximal cardiac output exercise test at sea level at an altitude of
6000 feet. Cardiopulmonary and metabolic variables were measured and compared at sea
level and altitude.
RESULTS: Maximal oxygen consumption and work levels were limited by short-term altitude exposure.
Ventilatory variables were not significantly influenced by altitude exposure. During
submaximal exercise no alteration in exercise efficiency or response was seen for
most of the variables when altitude and sea level data were compared. Both cardiac
output and stroke volume were elevated at altitude at rest but not during exercise,
suggesting a lower reserve for both variables at altitude. Level of plasma glucose,
lactate, norepinephrine, and epinephrine were not significantly influenced by altitude
exposure. Fetal heart rate responses did not differ between the sea level and altitude
conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: Lowlander pregnant women in the third trimester have some limitations to maximal
aerobic capacity but not submaximal exercise on short-term altitude exposure. No ominous
fetal responses have been observed during this study. The results suggest that pregnant
women may engage in at least brief moderate exercise bouts at moderate altitude without
adverse consequences.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to American Journal of Obstetrics & GynecologyAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period. ACOG technical bulletin no. 189. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington1994
- Maternal respiration and blood gases during aerobic exercise performed at moderate altitude.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992; 24: 868-872
- Reation von mutter und fetus auf die Korperliche belastung in oler hohe.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 1985; 45: 869-876
- Fetale Herzfrequenz bei mutterliher Hohenexposition in Korperlicher.Belastung Gynakol Prax. 1987; 11: 217-226
- Exercise in high and low pressure environments.in: Brooks GA Fahey TD Exercise physiology: human bioenergetics and its applications. John Wiley, New York1984: 474-475
- Determination of PVCO2 from the exponential CO2 rise during rebreathing.J Appl Physiol. 1958; 13: 159-164
- Measurement of mixed venous carbon dioxide pressure by rebreathing during exercise.Respir Physiol. 1985; 59: 379-392
- Simultaneous single isotope radioenzymatic array of plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine.Life Sci. 1977; 21: 625-636
- Pulmonary responses to exercise in pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1986; 154: 378-383
- Fetal heart rate responses to maternal exercise.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1986; 155: 729-733
- Cardiovascular response to cycle exercise during and after pregnancy.J Appl Physiol. 1989; 66: 336-341
- Maximal aerobic exercise in pregnancy women: heart rate O2 consumption, CO2 production, and ventilation.J Appl Physiol. 1991; 70: 1016-1023
- Hormonal and metabolic response to maximal exercise in pregnancy.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1985; 17: 206
- Hormonal responses to exercise in diabetic and nondiabetic pregnant patients.Diabetes. 1985; 34: 78-80
- Effect of exercise on catecholamines and plasma renin activity in pregnancy women.Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1988; 67: 519-523
- Cardiovascular changes in early phase of pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1989; 161: 1449-1453
- Cardiac output responses of primigravid women during exercise determined by the direct Fick technique.Obstet Gynecol. 1990; 75 (during exercise determined by the direct Fick technique): 954-959
- Obstet Gynecol. 1990; 75: 954-959
References
- Human kinetics.in: Physiology of sport and exercise. Human Kinetics, Champaign, Illinois1994: 270-272
- Aerobic capacity during acute exposure to simulated altitude, 914 to 2286 meters.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982; 14: 36-40
- Operation Everest. II. Muscle energetics during maximal exhaustive exercise.J Appl Physiol. 1989; 66: 142-150
- Influence of development adaptation on aerobic capacity at high altitude.J Appl Physiol. 1973; 34: 176-180
Article Info
Footnotes
☆Presented by invitation at the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, Hot Springs, Virginia, September 8–10, 1994.
Identification
Copyright
© 1995 Published by Elsevier Inc.