Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.7
3.0
Journals
JCM
Special Issues
Exercise Intervention during Pregnancy & Maternal Health
share announcement

Exercise Intervention during Pregnancy & Maternal Health

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Obstetrics & Gynecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 May 2022) | Viewed by 16349

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Rubén Barakat

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
AFIPE Research Group, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Interests: sports medicine; obstetrics; exercise science; exercise performance statistics; exercise intervention; maternal health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ignacio Refoyo Roman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sports Department, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Technical University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: exercise science; sports science; motion capture; physical education

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the life of the human being, a process similar to pregnancy and childbirth does not exist; this is due to the relevant quantity and quality of modifications in which the woman's body is involved during pregnancy.

Pregnancy is distinguished by a multitude of physiological, mental and emotional adjustments. Every organ system in the expectant mother are intimately involved in this complex process in order to create an optimal environment for the fetal development.

Movement restrictions and confinement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affect the lifestyle of pregnant population and can become a risk factor for different alterations and even pathologies.

The use of exercise as one of those preventive columns in general populations is sufficiently supported by scientific evidence; however, the efficacy of exercise in this prevention strategy during pregnancy is still poorly investigated.

Prof. Dr. Rubén Barakat
Prof. Dr. Ignacio Refoyo Roman
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • exercise
  • pregnancy
  • wellbeing
  • maternal
  • fetal
  • outcomes

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 230 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue: “Exercise Intervention during Pregnancy and Maternal Health”
by Rubén Barakat and Ignacio Refoyo
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(11), 3108; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11113108 - 31 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1446
Abstract
For nine months, the process of pregnancy modifies all the organs and systems of the woman’s body in order to achieve adequate fetal growth and development [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Intervention during Pregnancy & Maternal Health)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

10 pages, 453 KiB  
Article
Effect of Prenatal Yoga on Heart Rate Variability and Cardio-Respiratory Synchronization: A Prospective Cohort Study
by Ivan Žebeljan, Miha Lučovnik, Dejan Dinevski, Helmut K. Lackner, Manfred G. Moertl, Izidora Vesenjak Dinevski and Faris Mujezinović
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(19), 5777; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11195777 - 29 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2494
Abstract
The objective was to assess the effects of prenatal yoga on heart rate variability (HRV) and cardio-respiratory synchronization, used as proxies of autonomic nervous system activity. Sixty-nine healthy pregnant women were included; 33 in a yoga group attending at least one 90-min yoga [...] Read more.
The objective was to assess the effects of prenatal yoga on heart rate variability (HRV) and cardio-respiratory synchronization, used as proxies of autonomic nervous system activity. Sixty-nine healthy pregnant women were included; 33 in a yoga group attending at least one 90-min yoga class weekly throughout pregnancy, and 36 controls not involved in formal pregnancy exercise programs. Measurements of the time domain (SDNN, standard deviation of regular R-R intervals, and RMSSD, square root of mean squared differences of successive R-R intervals) and frequency domain (ln(LF/HF), natural logarithm of low-frequency to high-frequency power) HRV indices, as well as cardio-respiratory synchronization indexes were performed once per trimester before and after yoga or 30-min moderate-intensity walk. A statistical comparison was performed using a three-way analysis of the variance (p < 0.05 significant). Both the time domain and frequency domain HRV indices showed significant shifts towards parasympathetic dominance following yoga when compared to the controls throughout pregnancy (p = 0.002 for SDNN, p < 0.001 for RMSSD, and p = 0.006 for ln(LF/HF), respectively). There was a statistically non-significant trend towards higher synchronization between respiratory frequency and heart rate following yoga vs. controls (p = 0.057). Regular prenatal yoga was associated with enhanced parasympathetic activation persisting throughout pregnancy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Intervention during Pregnancy & Maternal Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

16 pages, 970 KiB  
Review
Sports Obstetrics: Implications of Pregnancy in Elite Sportswomen, a Narrative Review
by Ariadne L’Heveder, Maxine Chan, Anita Mitra, Lorraine Kasaven, Srdjan Saso, Tomas Prior, Noel Pollock, Michael Dooley, Karen Joash and Benjamin P. Jones
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(17), 4977; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11174977 - 25 Aug 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3884
Abstract
Increasing numbers of females are participating in elite sports, with a record number having competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Importantly, the ages of peak performance and fertility are very likely to coincide; as such, it is inevitable that pregnancy will occur during [...] Read more.
Increasing numbers of females are participating in elite sports, with a record number having competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Importantly, the ages of peak performance and fertility are very likely to coincide; as such, it is inevitable that pregnancy will occur during training and competition. Whilst there is considerable evidence to promote regular exercise in pregnancy, with benefits including a reduction in hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, and reduced rates of post-natal depression, few studies have been conducted which include elite athletes. Indeed, there are concerns that high-intensity exercise may lead to increased rates of miscarriage and preterm labour, amongst other pregnancy-related complications. There is minimal guidance on the obstetric management of athletes, and consequently, healthcare professionals frequently adopt a very conservative approach to managing such people. This narrative review summarises the evidence on the antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum outcomes in elite athletes and provides recommendations for healthcare providers, demonstrating that generally, pregnant athletes can continue their training, with a few notable exceptions. It also summarises the physiological changes that occur in pregnancy and reviews the literature base regarding how these changes may impact performance, with benefits arising from pregnancy-associated cardiovascular adaptations at earlier gestations but later changes causing an increased risk of injury and fatigue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Intervention during Pregnancy & Maternal Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 610 KiB  
Review
Level of Physical Activity in Pregnant Populations from Different Geographic Regions: A Systematic Review
by Cristina Silva-Jose, Miguel Sánchez-Polán, Rubén Barakat, Javier Gil-Ares and Ignacio Refoyo
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(15), 4638; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11154638 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2678
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the level of physical activity during pregnancy in different populations worldwide. An intensive search was carried out from February until May 2021. The inclusion criteria were original studies of healthy pregnant women, and the main [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to examine the level of physical activity during pregnancy in different populations worldwide. An intensive search was carried out from February until May 2021. The inclusion criteria were original studies of healthy pregnant women, and the main study variable was the assessment of physical activity. A total of 110 out of 1451 studies were assessed for inclusion, using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for quality, and for the risk of bias. The 44 analyzed articles were divided into 5 tables according to the characteristics of the intervention and the validated instrument used to measure physical activity (PA). A total of 59.09% of the studies indicated that participants had a low level of physical activity during pregnancy. In addition, the median quality score of the studies was 7.12, and 77.27% of the studies were cataloged as having a high-quality score. Although international guidelines recommend that women without a contraindication engage in prenatal physical activity, the results of the present study show that the level of PA is too low for women to achieve scientifically proven maternal-fetal benefits. Failure to achieve the recommended levels of weekly physical activity could pose significant risks to maternal well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Intervention during Pregnancy & Maternal Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 976 KiB  
Review
Therapeutic Aquatic Exercise in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by José Maria Cancela-Carral, Benigna Blanco and Adriana López-Rodríguez
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(3), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11030501 - 19 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4528
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess evidence on the effects of aquatic exercise in pregnant women. The search included the following databases: Medline-PubMed, Web of science, PEDro, Scopus and SPORTDiscus databases. Seventeen randomized controlled trials were included (n = 2439, [...] Read more.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess evidence on the effects of aquatic exercise in pregnant women. The search included the following databases: Medline-PubMed, Web of science, PEDro, Scopus and SPORTDiscus databases. Seventeen randomized controlled trials were included (n = 2439, age 20–39 years; 31.30 ± 1.30 years). The systematic review carried out has indicated that aquatic exercise in pregnant women appears to have positive effects on preventing excessive maternal weight gain, improving maternal body image, as well as promoting healthy behavior, decreasing medical leave due to lower back pain during pregnancy, preventing gestational depression by improving maternal glucose tolerance levels, and reducing O’Sullivan test values. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database was used to evaluate the quality of the methodology of the selected studies, which were found to present an average methodological quality (PEDro scale: 5.05 points). Meta-analysis showed that aquatic exercise in pregnant women appears to have positive effects in the prevention of excessive maternal weight gain (mean difference −1.66 kg, 95% CI −2.67 to −0.66) and also to reduce birth weight mean differences (−89.13 g, 95% CI −143.18 to −35.08). The practice of aquatic exercise is appropriate throughout pregnancy. However, more research is needed to build more solid knowledge on the benefits of aquatic physical exercise on physical fitness (endurance, flexibility, agility and strength). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Intervention during Pregnancy & Maternal Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop