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[Should physical activity be contraindicated during pregnancy in relation to its potentially related risks?]
S Verdière1, B C Guinhouya2, D Salerno3
1Pôle mère enfant gynécologie, centre hospitalier de Seclin, 59113 Seclin, France.
Objective:
This paper aimed at providing a critical analysis of data on the risks associated with physical activity of women during their pregnancy.
Methods:
Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, PubMed (Medline) and Web of Sciences were searched using a combination of MeSH terms associated to "Physical activity", "Pregnancy" and "Adverse events" or "Risks". Only review papers published from inception of these databases to November 2016 were used in the present analysis.
Results:
The electronic search yield a total of 104 citations. After a critical analysis of abstracts and/or full-texts, only a systematic review and cohort study on injuries related to physical activity during pregnancy appeared relevant for the current study. Data reveals a very small proportion (<1 %) of adverse events in direct link with the physical activity behavior of pregnant women. Furthermore, there would be less than one serious adverse event per 5000hours of physical activity. The only serious adverse event attributable to physical activity during pregnancy was uterine contractions. The threat of preterm labor and miscarriage risk cannot be primarily attributed to the participation of pregnant women in a physical activity, even vigorous. Moreover, no adverse effects of maternal physical activity on neonatal outcomes were found.
Conclusion:
Physical activity-related risks during pregnancy appear to be infrequent and of minor severity. Though further studies are required to better understand the risk/benefit balance of physical activity during pregnancy, current data do not support the contraindication of this behavior in pregnant women.
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