Long-term Outcome After Exercising Throughout Pregnancy: Fitness and Cardiovascular Risk

Overview

Journal Am J Obstet Gynecol

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2008 Aug 1

PMID 18667190

Citations 23

Authors

James F Clapp 3rd

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to test the null hypothesis that continuing vigorous weight-bearing exercise throughout pregnancy has no discernible long-term effect on indices of fitness and/or cardiovascular risk.

Study Design: This was a follow-up observational study of the fitness and cardiovascular risk profile of 39 women conducted on the General Clinical Research Center at the University of Vermont. Data were analyzed using the paired Student t test, analysis of variance, and linear regression.

Results: Women who voluntarily maintain their exercise regimen during pregnancy continue to exercise over time at a higher level than those who stop. Over time they also gain less weight (3.4 vs 9.9 kg), deposit less fat (2.2 vs 6.7 kg), have increased fitness, and have a lower cardiovascular risk profile than those who stop.

Conclusion: Women who continue weight-bearing exercise during pregnancy maintain their long-term fitness and have a low cardiovascular risk profile in the perimenopausal period.

Citing Articles

The Impact of Medical Physical Training and a Structured Personalized Exercise Training Program on Hemodynamic Parameters and Arterial Stiffness in Pregnant Women.

Petre I, Iurciuc S, Buleu F, Petre I, Moleriu R, Popa D Biomedicines. 2024; 12(5).

PMID: 38790947 PMC: 11118944. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12050986.

A Comparative Evaluation of the Effects of N95 and Surgical Facemasks on Pregnant Women Performing Moderate-Intensity Exercise: A Prospective Randomized Study.

Akpan U, Akpanika C, Asibong U, Ekott M, Etuk S Cureus. 2023; 15(9):e45776.

PMID: 37872900 PMC: 10590647. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45776.

The Impact of Physical Activity and Inactivity on Cardiovascular Risk across Women's Lifespan: An Updated Review.

Bucciarelli V, Mattioli A, Sciomer S, Moscucci F, Renda G, Gallina S J Clin Med. 2023; 12(13).

PMID: 37445383 PMC: 10342501. DOI: 10.3390/jcm12134347.

To Be Active or to Stop? A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study Exploring Provider Advice and Patient Fears Surrounding Physical Activity in Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal Growth Restriction.

Tinius R, Maples J, Schafer M, Paudel A, Fortner K, Zite N Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(10).

PMID: 35627613 PMC: 9141534. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106076.

The influence of exercise during pregnancy on racial/ethnic health disparities and birth outcomes.

Raper M, McDonald S, Johnston C, Isler C, Newton E, Kuehn D BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021; 21(1):258.

PMID: 33771102 PMC: 8004415. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-03717-5.

References

Wells C, Boorman M, Riggs D . Effect of age and menopausal status on cardiorespiratory fitness in masters women runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992; 24(10):1147-54. View

Henry W, Gardin J, Ware J . Echocardiographic measurements in normal subjects from infancy to old age. Circulation. 1980; 62(5):1054-61. DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.62.5.1054. View

Linne Y, Dye L, Barkeling B, Rossner S . Weight development over time in parous women--the SPAWN study--15 years follow-up. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003; 27(12):1516-22. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802441. View

Pearson T, Blair S, Daniels S, Eckel R, Fair J, Fortmann S . AHA Guidelines for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke: 2002 Update: Consensus Panel Guide to Comprehensive Risk Reduction for Adult Patients Without Coronary or Other Atherosclerotic Vascular Diseases. American Heart Association.... Circulation. 2002; 106(3):388-91. DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.0000020190.45892.75. View

Clapp 3rd J . A clinical approach to exercise during pregnancy. Clin Sports Med. 1994; 13(2):443-58. View

Devereux R, Lutas E, Casale P, Kligfield P, Eisenberg R, Hammond I . Standardization of M-mode echocardiographic left ventricular anatomic measurements. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1984; 4(6):1222-30. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(84)80141-2. View

Clapp 3rd J . The effects of maternal exercise on early pregnancy outcome. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1989; 161(6 Pt 1):1453-7. DOI: 10.1016/0002-9378(89)90903-4. View

Matsuda M, DeFronzo R . Insulin sensitivity indices obtained from oral glucose tolerance testing: comparison with the euglycemic insulin clamp. Diabetes Care. 1999; 22(9):1462-70. DOI: 10.2337/diacare.22.9.1462. View

Ness R, Harris T, Cobb J, Flegal K, Kelsey J, Balanger A . Number of pregnancies and the subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med. 1993; 328(21):1528-33. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199305273282104. View

10.

Pickering T, Hall J, Appel L, Falkner B, Graves J, Hill M . Recommendations for blood pressure measurement in humans and experimental animals: Part 1: blood pressure measurement in humans: a statement for professionals from the Subcommittee of Professional and Public Education of the American Heart.... Hypertension. 2004; 45(1):142-61. DOI: 10.1161/01.HYP.0000150859.47929.8e. View

11.

Clapp 3rd J, Capeless E . Cardiovascular function before, during, and after the first and subsequent pregnancies. Am J Cardiol. 1997; 80(11):1469-73. DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9149(97)00738-8. View

12.

Clapp 3rd J, Capeless E . The VO2max of recreational athletes before and after pregnancy. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1991; 23(10):1128-33. View

13.

Clapp 3rd J, Capeless E . Neonatal morphometrics after endurance exercise during pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1990; 163(6 Pt 1):1805-11. DOI: 10.1016/0002-9378(90)90754-u. View

14.

Wolfe L, Weissgerber T . Clinical physiology of exercise in pregnancy: a literature review. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2003; 25(6):473-83. DOI: 10.1016/s1701-2163(16)30309-7. View

15.

Astrand P, Bergh U, Kilbom A . A 33-yr follow-up of peak oxygen uptake and related variables of former physical education students. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1997; 82(6):1844-52. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1997.82.6.1844. View

16.

Teichholz L, KREULEN T, Herman M, Gorlin R . Problems in echocardiographic volume determinations: echocardiographic-angiographic correlations in the presence of absence of asynergy. Am J Cardiol. 1976; 37(1):7-11. DOI: 10.1016/0002-9149(76)90491-4. View

17.

Sadaniantz A, Saint Laurent L, Parisi A . Long-term effects of multiple pregnancies on cardiac dimensions and systolic and diastolic function. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1996; 174(3):1061-4. DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9378(96)70351-4. View

18.

Clapp 3rd J . The course of labor after endurance exercise during pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1990; 163(6 Pt 1):1799-805. DOI: 10.1016/0002-9378(90)90753-t. View

19.

Clapp 3rd J, Kim H, Burciu B, Schmidt S, Petry K, Lopez B . Continuing regular exercise during pregnancy: effect of exercise volume on fetoplacental growth. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002; 186(1):142-7. DOI: 10.1067/mob.2002.119109. View

20.

Dunn A, Marcus B, Kampert J, Garcia M, Kohl 3rd H, Blair S . Comparison of lifestyle and structured interventions to increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: a randomized trial. JAMA. 1999; 281(4):327-34. DOI: 10.1001/jama.281.4.327. View