The Effects of Aerobic Water Exercise on Pregnancy

Summary

Objective: To assess the relationship between maternal cardiovascular capacity and aerobic water exercise during the gestational periods of hemodynamic overload. Study design: randomized clinical trial, with 41 healthy pregnant women assigned to one of two groups: Control and Water exercise. Maternal cardiovascular capacity (maximum oxygen consumption, cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate and mean arterial pressure), physical performance (relative HR, treadmill speed and self-perceived exertion) and neonatal outcome (gestational age, weight, Apgar index and length of infant's hospitalization) were assessed. Means were evaluated by dependent and independent t-tests, and proportions by the chi-square method (p\<0.05). Results: The control variables showed that the groups were homogeneous. Water exercise was associated with maintenance of VO2max, increase in stroke volume and cardiac output, and better performance on stress tests in the third trimester of gestation. No significant difference in neonatal variables was observed. Conclusion: Water exercise maintained cardiovascular capacity and performance under submaximal stress, and did not affect hemodynamic adaptation to gestation or neonatal outcome.

Conditions

• Pregnancy Related
• Physical Activity

Interventions

OTHER

Water aerobic exercise

The hydrotherapy program of Prevedel et al.14 was used. One-hour sessions, led by a physiotherapist under the supervision of an obstetrician, were held three times a week in an indoor swimming-pool heated at 28oC-32oC, and consisted of exercises of moderate intensity (60-70% of maximum heart rate). Subgroups of up to 10 subjects participated in each session. Sessions were offered at different times of the day (morning, afternoon, and evening). The exercises included 5 phases: stretching, warm up, endurance training, strength training and relaxation with breathing exercises, in accordance with the recommendations of ACOG11.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Federal University of São Paulo

  collaborator OTHER

• Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP, Botucatu, Brasil

  collaborator OTHER

• UPECLIN HC FM Botucatu Unesp

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Iracema MP Calderon, MD, Phd · Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Botucatu Medical School - São Paulo State University/UNESP. Botucatu, Brazil

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

15 Years

Max Age

26 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2000-01-31

Primary Completion

2001-04-30

Completion

2001-04-30

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations