Maternal blood pressure and heart rate response to pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy
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Published on: May 26, 2023
Cristine H Ferreira1, Luciane M V Naldoni, Juliana Dos Santos Ribeiro
1Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy Course, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Objectives:
To assess whether maternal blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) change significantly in response to pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy.
Design:
Longitudinal exploratory study with repeated measurements.
Sample:
Twenty-seven nulliparous healthy women of mean age 23.3 years (range 18-36) and mean body mass index 23.4 (range 23.1-29.5).
Methods:
Individual supervised pelvic floor muscle training from gestational week 20 till 36 with assessment of BP and HR at gestational weeks 20, 24, 28, 32 and 36.
Main Outcome Measures:
Systolic and diastolic BP was measured before and after each training session and HR was monitored during each session.
Results:
Pelvic floor muscle training did not change BP. 77% (n = 21) of participants exceeded 70% of estimated maximum HR during at least one session. The time for exceeding 70% of estimated maximum HR was between 2.2 and 3.2 % of the total exercise session. Increases in BP and HR from gestational weeks 20 till 36 were within normal limits for pregnant women.
Conclusions:
Pelvic floor muscle training in nulliparous sedentary pregnant women does not increase BP. It significantly increases HR during the exercise sessions, but only for a limited period of time and with no negative long-term effect on BP or HR.
