The physical fitness of Finnish primigravidae

A group of healthy primigravidae aged 20-26 years were examined two weeks before term in order to measure their physical performance. Two types of work tests with the bicycle ergometer were used, first a three-stage submaximal test and on the next day a voluntarily maximal test. The results between these two tests are in highly significant correlation. In the three-stage submaximal test the mean maximal oxygen uptake was found to be 39.9 +/- 8.3 (SD) ml/kg x min (range 25 to 65 ml/kg x min). The mean square root from the total work performed during the voluntarily maximal test was 93.6 +/- 10.9% compared with the reference value of healthy, nonpregnant women of the same average age and weight. The quotient last work load divided by the last heart rate was 102.9 +/- 17.8% from the reference value of the nonpregnant women. The mean percentage value of physical fitness calculated from the reference value is 98.1 +/- 12.8% compared with that of nonpregnant women. The maximal oxygen uptake found in the three-stage submaximal test is in highly significant correlation with prepregnancy weight. The results of the voluntarily maximal test do not correlate with the prepregnancy weight or the weight gain. In the three-stage submaximal test 6.1% of the mothers had a maximal oxygen uptake considered as low. In the voluntarily maximal test 5.9% of the mothers had a mean physical fitness below 80% of normal. Special attention of mothers with lowered physical fitness during pregnancy might be needed