Objective
The purpose of this study was to evaluate fetal responses to strenuous exercise in
physically active and inactive women.
Study Design
Forty-five healthy women (15 who were nonexercisers, 15 who were regularly active,
15 who were highly active) underwent a peak treadmill test at 28 weeks' gestation
to 32 weeks 6 days' gestation. Fetal well-being (umbilical artery Doppler indices,
fetal heart tracing/rate, biophysical profile [BPP]) was evaluated before and after
exercise. Uterine artery Doppler scans were also obtained.
Results
Umbilical and uterine artery Doppler indices were similar among activity groups and
did not change with exercise (P > .05). BPP and fetal heart tracings were reassuring in all groups. However, subgroup
analyses showed transient fetal heart rate decelerations after exercise and elevated
umbilical and uterine artery Doppler indices in 5 highly active women. After this,
BPP and fetal heart tracings were reassuring.
Conclusion
Overall fetal well-being is reassuring after short-duration, strenuous exercise in
both active and inactive pregnant women. A subset of highly active women experienced
transient fetal heart rate decelerations and Doppler changes immediately after exercise.
Athletes may push beyond a threshold intensity at which fetal well-being may be compromised.
However, potential impact on neonatal outcomes is unknown.
Key words
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: July 23, 2012
Accepted:
July 17,
2012
Received in revised form:
June 24,
2012
Received:
April 22,
2012
Footnotes
Supported in part by grant number L30 HD062349-01 from the Clinical Loan Repayment Program, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (L.M.S.).
The authors report no conflict of interest.
Reprints not available from the authors.
Cite this article as: Szymanski LM, Satin AJ. Strenuous exercise during pregnancy: is there a limit?. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2012;207:179.e1-6.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
