Physical Fitness and Pregnancy: how physical activity affects the health of pregnant, peripartum, and postpartum women

Although exercise is critical for pregnant women (just as it is for everyone), few receive the appropriate amount of exercise.  This may seem intuitive, but physical symptoms of pregnancy often are a barrier to physical activity for women.

A recent Research Report article published in The Journal of Women's Health - Physical Therapy, titled “The Impact of Symptom Type and Frequency on Activity Level During Pregnancy,” studying the daily records of physical activity for “sedentary women with a history of preeclampsia,” discusses how maternal weight and gestational age affect activity levels.  For example, women who are already over-weight have lower activity levels during pregnancy.  Similarly, the further along the baby is, the less likely the mother is to be physically active.  Women, after week 28, have the greatest reduction in physical activity.

This is problematic because a healthy mom is crucial for both the health of the mother and the health of the baby.  Furthermore, symptoms like fatigue and backache decrease among more active moms.  Gestational diabetes and cardiovascular disease are less likely among active moms as well.  Over-exercise can be detrimental as well; however, the numbers of women over-exercising during pregnancy is negligible compared to the majority, who are under-active during pregnancy.  Often, these physiological problems persist after pregnancy.

Therefore, the challenge for therapists is to find a way to educate their pregnant patients about the importance of physical activity during pregnancy as well as give them advice on how to implement an active lifestyle within their daily routine. H&W recently expanded our courses on pregnant, peripartum, and postpartum patient care to help therapists when they treat these patients.  Check out the following events on the horizon in the coming months:

Care of the Pregnant Patient
Winter Park, FL.  Sept. 21-22, 2013

Care of the Postpartum Patient 
Akron, OH.  Aug. 17-18, 2013

Peripartum Special Topics
San Diego, CA.  Oct. 5-6, 2013