What is the effect of regular group exercise on maternal psychological outcomes and common pregnancy complaints? An assessor blinded RCT. (January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haakstad, Lene A.H.; Torset, Beate; Bø, Kari
• Is Part Of: Midwifery. Volume 32(2016)
• Page Start: 81
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2016-01
• Subjects: Exercise -- Maternal well-being -- Pregnancy complaint -- Pregnancy depression -- Quality of life; Midwifery -- Periodicals; Midwifery -- Periodicals; Sages-femmes -- Périodiques; Midwifery; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618.2005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2015.10.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-6138

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: to examine the effects of supervised group exercise on maternal psychological outcomes and commonly reported pregnancy complaints. Design: an observer-blinded randomized controlled trial. Setting: Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway. Participants: 105 sedentary, nulliparous pregnant women, mean age 30.7(±4.0) years, pre-pregnancy BMI 23.8 (±4.3), were assigned to either exercise ( n =52) or control group ( n = 53) at mean gestation week 17.7 (±4.2). Intervention: the exercise intervention followed ACOG guidelines and included a 60 minutes general fitness class, with 40 minutes of endurance training/aerobic and 20 minutes of strength training and stretching/relaxation, performed at least twice per week for a minimum of 12 weeks. Measurements: outcome measures were assessed through standardized interviews pre- and post-intervention (gestation week 36.6, ±0.9), and included psychological variables related to quality of life, well-being, body image and pregnancy depression, as well as assessment of 13 commonly reported pregnancy complaints. Findings: post-intervention, using intention to treat (ITT) analysis, women randomized to exercise rated their health significantly better compared to women in the control group ( p =0.02) and reported less fatigue related to everyday activities ( p =0.04). Women with complete exercise adherence (≥24 sessions) had significantly better scores on measurements of feelings related to sadness, hopelessness and anxiety ( p <0.01), compared to the control group. Contradictory, the control group reported higher life enjoyment ( p <0.01). There were no significant group differences in body-image or pregnancy depression. With respect to analysing pregnancy complaints according to ITT, no differences between the groups were found. A comparison of the women who attended ≥19 (80%, n =21) or ≥24 (100%, n =14) exercise sessions with the control-participants, showed that fewer women in the exercise group reported nausea/vomiting and numbness/poor circulation in legs. Key conclusion and implication for practise: participation in regular group exercise during pregnancy contributed to improvements in some variables related to maternal well-being and quality of life. Women with high exercise adherence had significantly better results on several health variables reaping the highest benefits. A qualitative study exploring the barriers of women in achieving recommended amount of activity may be necessary to understand this population and developing better clinical practice educational tools. Highlights: Exercise had positive effects on well-being, quality of life, health satisfaction. Exercise reduced fatigue and negative feelings. Exercise reduced the prevalence of nausea and poor circulation of the extremities. Aerobic exercise was well tolerated by healthy inactive pregnant women. No harmful effects of the 12 week exercise intervention were noted in the mother or the fetus.