Exercise During Pregnancy, part 2
With the rise of elite athletes competing in high-intensity and sometimes contact sports, it raises the question of what is truly safe for pregnant women? The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology currently recommend a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week during pregnancy. This should include both aerobic and resistance training. Exercise during pregnancy has been shown to demonstrate significant positive effects for the mother including but not limited to reducing weight gain and its subsequent effects, alleviating and preventing musculoskeletal pain, shortening labor and delivery, and reducing the risk of an emergency c-section. While exercise does not seem to have a direct effect on the fetus, it has been shown to potentially reduce fetal distress during labor. More importantly, exercise has not been shown to have any negative effects on a fetus during a low-risk pregnancy.1-2 It is also important to note that the upper limits of how much exercise intensity a pregnant mother and fetus can tolerate safely is currently undetermined. However, special concern should be given to competing in high fall-risk or impact activities, high heat and humidity, and exercise at elevation >6000ft.3 In short, if your obstetrician has given you the clearance to exercise during your pregnancy, most exercise and athletic activities will be well-tolerated by both mother and baby, especially in well-trained adults going into pregnancy. Remember, chiropractic is your best bet to achieve healthy maximum performance! But, if you are concerned about a specific activity or any symptoms you are experiencing while exercising, always consult your healthcare team immediately.1-3
References:
1. Perales M, Santos-Lozano A, Ruiz JR, Lucia A, Barakat R. Benefits of aerobic or resistance training during pregnancy on maternal health and perinatal outcomes: A systematic review. Early Human Development. 2016;94:43-48. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2016.01.004
2. Albright E. Exercise During Pregnancy. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2016;15(4):226-227. doi:https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000277
3. Cooper DB, Yang L. Pregnancy And Exercise. PubMed. Published April 17, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430821/
