Integrative Review of Exercise at Altitude during Pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Maternal-Fetal Health

Background:

• Competitive athletes often train at altitude during pregnancy.
• Existing exercise guidelines at altitude are based on sedentary populations.
• Physiological responses to altitude in pregnant athletes are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and critique studies on the safety of pregnant elite athletes exercising at altitude.
• To analyze maternal and fetal outcomes in this population.
• To identify gaps in current research.

Main Methods:

• Integrative review of published studies.
• Searched seven databases for relevant literature.
• Screened 157 documents, with seven meeting inclusion criteria.

Main Results:

• Limited research exists on pregnant athletes exercising at altitude.
• Current recommendations for altitude exercise may not be applicable to athletes.
• Maternal and fetal outcomes require further investigation in athletic populations.

Conclusions:

• More research is needed on the effects of exercise at altitude for pregnant athletes.
• Studies should consider a wider range of fitness levels.
• Safety of high-altitude training during pregnancy for athletes remains an open question.