Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Swimming Exercise Protocol and Care Methods for Pregnant Rats
Published on: April 5, 2024
A pilot study on the effects of aquatic exercises on discomforts of pregnancy
Sheila A Smith1, Yvonne Michel
1College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. smitsa@musc.edu
Objectives:
To estimate the impact of an aquatic exercise program on perception of body image, participation in health-promoting behaviors, barriers to health-promoting participation, level of physical discomfort, and mobility.
Design:
A two-group, quasi-experimental, pretest/posttest design.
Sample And Setting:
A convenience sample of 40 nonexercising pregnant women who were at least 19 weeks gestation were recruited. Sixty percent of the sample was African American. Participants self-selected assignment to either the exercise or nonexercise group. Both groups completed self-report measures and underwent a mobility assessment. The exercise group participated in a 60-minute, 6-week aquatic exercise program three sessions per week. The control group was instructed to continue their normal activities of daily living.
Results:
Women who had participated in the aquatic exercise program reported significantly less physical discomfort, improved mobility, and improved body image and health-promoting behaviors as compared to control subjects.
Conclusions:
Aquatic exercise during pregnancy may enhance physical functioning, decreasing maternal discomfort, improving maternal body image, and improving health-promoting behaviors.
