REVIEW:
STRONG MUM – HEALTHY BUB?
A new study looks at the potential benefits – or otherwise –
for expectant mothers of participating in ‘realistic’ resistance
exercise programs.
WORDS: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MIKE CLIMSTEIN & JOE WALSH
Title: Resistance Training During Pregnancy and
Perinatal Outcomes
Author: Dr’s White et al. (Dept of Health,
Exercise and Rehabilitation, Winona State
University, USA)
Source: Journal of Physical Activity and Health
(Volume 11 (6), pgs 1141-1148, 2014)
Introduction: It is only appropriate that this
issue’s Research Review be on pregnancy
and exercise as two of Mike’s higher degree
PhD students and their wives have just had
babies (congratulations to Ben and Kim who
just welcomed Billy to their family, and to
James and Katrina who were recently joined
by baby Jack.) OK, with the niceties out of
the way let’s talk research!
Dr White and her colleagues have
recently published a paper on resistance
training during pregnancy and perinatal
(time period from just before the birth to
seven days post birth) outcomes. We have
known for quite some time that the benefits
of regular (low-moderate intensity) exercise
for the expectant mother include a reduction
of backaches, bloating, swelling, improved
sleep and weight control (which helps reduce
the likelihood of gestational diabetes).
Despite these benefits, Dr White reports that
only two-thirds of pregnant women engage
in any leisure-time physical activity. Of those
who do exercise, walking is reported to be
the most common (83 per cent), however
resistance training is the third most popular
form of exercise performed, but by only
10 per cent of the pregnant women who
reported engaging in any physical activity.
It is not surprising that such a small
percentage of pregnant women participate
in resistance training given the potential
risks. These include hyperthermia and a
redistribution of blood flow away from the
foetus. Dr White and her colleagues point
out that a recently published randomised
control study reported no association of
light-moderate intensity exercises with
gestational age at delivery or offspring
body size, both of which are favourable
findings. However, it should be noted that
the participants in that study only used
resistance bands or light barbells (i.e.
<3kg). Dr White recognised that there
was a need to investigate other, more
realistic training regimes and hence
conducted this comprehensive study.
Method: This study invited
women aged 18 years of age or older
who had given birth in the previous
five years to participate in the study.
Participants completed an online
survey which investigated their birth
outcomes (birth weight, gestational
age at delivery, preterm labour,
mode of delivery and infant height).
The researchers also queried if
the mother developed gestational
diabetes, hypertensive disorders
and birth weight. The survey also
queried the type of exercise
completed
while
pregnant
(specific to first, second and
third trimesters). Respondents
were divided into three groups
depending upon the mode(s)
of exercise they completed;
resistance training and aerobic
exercise (RTAE), aerobic exercise
only (AE) and no exercise (NE).
Results: A total of 284
women
participated
in
the study. Women who
completed
resistance
NETWORK AUTUMN 2015 | 63