european college of sport science

Thursday, June 25th, 2009
EXERCISE IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY, DOPPLER EXAMINATIONS AND FETAL HEART RATE
BARAKAT CARBALLO, R., CORDERO RODRIGUEZ, Y., RODRIGUEZ ROMO, G., STIRLING, J., ZAKYNTHINAKY, M.
TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY MADRID
Introduction: From a biological viewpoint, pregnancy is a unique process in which the function of all the body’s control systems is modified
to maintain both maternal and fetal homeostasis. With physical exercise becoming an integral part of life for many women, the
question whether exercise during pregnancy may have an adverse impact on the well being of the new born has reached increasing
importance.
For healthy pregnant we examined the effect of protocol of moderate exercise (static bicycle) performed throughout the third trimester of
pregnancy on circulation (umbilical and cerebral middle arteries) and behavior of fetal heart rate (FHR).
Methods: 20 pregnant healthy women in the third trimester were studied, age= 29.6 ± 4.3 and gestational age 239 ± 14.3 days. Relative
to parity 10 of them were nulliparae and 10 multiparae. Exercise protocol consisted of 20 minutes of activity on a static bicycle (50-55%
max cap). Pulsatility Index (PI) before and after exercise was obtained from doppler examinations in the umbilical and cerebral middle
arteries. Other maternal data were recorded including smoking, occupational activity and physical activity habits.
Results: Our results shows no difference for measurements of IP, before and after exercise, for umbilical artery (p=0.06) and fetal cerebral
middle artery (p= 0.10). We found an elevation of FHR between 11-36 beats/min (mean=24±7.6) and significant differences for changes of
FHR between parity groups (p=0.04).
Discussion: Certain scientific evidence has demonstrated that physical exercise during pregnancy does not have adverse effects (Barakat
et al, 2008; 2009). In that sense, our results shows no differences in IP of umbilical and fetal cerebral middle arteries in agreement with
Ertan (2004). Changes in FHR caused by the exercise are a normal fetal reflex (Wolfe et al, 1994).
The results presented support the evidence that moderate exercise during the third trimester of pregnancy does not have a negative
influence on neither uterine and fetal circulation nor FHR.
References
Barakat R, Ruiz JR, Stirling JR, Zakynthinaki MS, Lucia A (2009). Am J Obstet Gynecol, in press
Barakat R, Stirling JR, Lucia A (2008). Br J Sports Med, 42 (8), 674-678.
Ertan A, Schanz S, Tanriverdi H, Meyberg R, Schmidt W. (2004). J Perinat Med, 32, 260-265.
Wolfe, L. Brenner, I. and Mottola, M. (1994). Exerc Sport Sci Rev, 22, 145-194.
SELF REPORT VS. MOTION MONITOR IN MEASUREMENT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING PREGNANCY
HAAKSTAD, L.
NORWEGIAN SCHOOL OF SPORT SCIENCES
Most pregnancy-studies have relied on retrospective, cross sectional surveys to measure physical activity level. Questionnaires are costeffective,
yet validity of the data may be questionable. Objective: The aim of the present study was to validate the Physical Activity and
Pregnancy Questionnaire (PAPQ) with a portable activity monitor (ActiReg®, PreMed AS, Oslo, Norway). Design: Prospective comparison
study. Setting: Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway. Population: Seventy-seven pregnant women wore the ActiReg sensors
during waking hours for seven consecutive days and answered the PAPQ. Main outcome measures: Agreement between the two methods
was analysed by Bland & Altman plot and Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: The results indicated only small differences
between the PAPQ and the ActiReg in cross-tabulation of total physical activity level and proportion of participants meeting the current
exercise guidelines. The correlation between the methods was good (r=0.59) for time spent in activities with high intensity (METS>6),
moderate for time spent standing/moving (r= 0.36) and fair for sitting/lying (r=0.29). The Bland-Altman plot of the activity patterns,
showed a mean difference near zero with no apparent trends and with wide scatter of individual observations. Conclusions: The PAPQ
may be considered an acceptable method for assessing habitual physical activity and exercise among pregnant women at group level.
However, as questionnaires and portable activity monitors have their strengths in measurement of different aspects of physical activity,
there may be several advantages in combining these two types of instruments for registrations of physical activity level during pregnancy.
EXERCISE PRACTICE DURING PREGNANCY
SANTOS-ROCHA, R., CARNIDE, F., RAMOS, L., MAIA, F.
SPORT SCIENCES SCHOOL OF RIO MAIOR - POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF SANTARÉM
According to ACSM and ACOG the benefits of physical activity during pregnancy are well documented and there are general guidelines
for exercise prescription based on scientific research. Also, the literature supports the recommendation to initiate or continue exercise in
most pregnancies1. The exercise prescription during pregnancy includes the forms of adaptation of the type of exercise, of the intensity,
duration and frequency during the different phases of pregnancy: the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of gestation and the post-partum period
(15 to 30 days); and the breast-feeding period. In each one of these phases morphological, physiological and psychological alterations
occur which will respectively affect the adaptations of the exercise programs based on effectiveness and safety. However, there is a lack
of information on the specific guidelines and real strategies of adaptation of several recreational activities that might be adapted to
healthy pregnant women. We believe that in order to better develop safe and effective exercise programs it is necessary to understand,
among other variables: the physical activity patterns of pregnant women; the motivations for exercise during pregnancy; and the characteristics
of proper exercise. The general purpose of the present study was to characterize exercise practice during pregnancy by means
of a questionnaire. Other purposes were to validate the questionnaire and to analyze the motivation for physical exercise during pregnancy.
This retrospective study was conducted with a sample of 500 pregnancies. Prior to this analysis, the questionnaire was applied
twice to a sample of 100 pregnancies involving 61 women (aged 20-45 years), in order to test the temporal stability (alpha of Crombach
test). The average number of days between applications was 51.6 (20.3). The responses obtained in the two applications have
shown a high significant correlation. In what is concerned to the characterization of the practice of physical exercise during pregnancy,
physical exercise was encouraged by doctors, especially, walking. Most women choose professional oriented physical activity. During
the 1st and 2nd trimesters the most popular activities were: strength training, water exercise, swimming and stretching. During the 3rd
trimester was the preparation for childbirth. The main reasons behind the practice of physical activity during pregnancy were: the perceived
healthy effects on pregnancy and labour; the promotion of mother and baby health and well-being. 76% reported the practice of
physical activity before pregnancy, but 52% abandoned it during the 1st trimester. The perceived risk for baby’s health was the main
OSLO/NORWAY, JUNE 24-27, 2009 137