2022

Mikkonen, Ritva S.; Rodrigues-de-Souza, Daiana P.; Ihalainen, Johanna K.

Pregnancy is a special and empowering time for women as well as an appropriate time to reassess lifestyle choices and adopt positive lifestyle changes. The female body undergoes many metabolic, biochemical, and physiologic changes during pregnancy that may affect a woman’s ability and willingness to exercise. The pelvic floor, in particular, experiences a unique combination of stressors that affect its form and function. Current research suggests that light and even moderate intensity endurance and strength training are appropriate to continue, or even commence, during healthy pregnancies without adverse outcomes for mother or child while high-intensity training and supine exercise should be avoided in second and third trimesters. Specific exercises to maintain the health and function of the pelvic floor may also be recommended during and after pregnancy. It is important to be aware that many pregnant women are not meeting exercise recommendations and/or may not have access to adequate information to maintain satisfactory physical health and function during and after pregnancy. Thus both health care and exercise professionals should be aware of the benefits and potential contraindications to exercise participation in pregnant women as well as the current evidence-based recommendations for exercise prescription in pregnant women.