Abstract
Considering the maternal risk for both short- and long-term disability imposed by activity restriction, it is of great concern that the antepartum symptoms of bed rest are still evident in the postpartum period. The benefits of bed-rest-exercise may alleviate or even prevent physiological distresses or deconditioning associated with activity restriction, thus, eliminating or stabilizing, factors that may augment existing complications. This is the first study to investigate the feasibility of incorporating a bed-rest exercise program in a specific hospitalized twin pregnancy case. The maternal physiological responses of heart rate, blood pressure and uterine contractions to a four week bed-rest resistance program were measured in a woman hospitalized due to complications during her twin pregnancy. A second participant (same diagnoses) was included as a control. The bed-rest-exercise reduced the degree of swelling in the lower extremities, promoted more energy during the day and a better night’s sleep. There were no significant differences in uterine contractions pre vs. post protocol and all babies were born healthy.
Highlights
Bed-rest has been extensively researched, in the nonpregnant population, especially by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other aerospace scientists who are interested in the effects of microgravity on human physiology
Considering the maternal risk for both short- and long-term disability imposed by activity restriction, it is of great concern that the antepartum symptoms of bed rest are still evident in the postpartum period
Having conducted an acute bed-rest-exercise study previously in our lab [26], the primary goal of this study was to determine the feasibility and the implications of implementing a bed-rest-exercise program over several weeks in a woman hospitalized with a twin pregnancy
Summary
Bed-rest has been extensively researched, in the nonpregnant population, especially by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other aerospace scientists who are interested in the effects of microgravity on human physiology. Headache, mood changes, tenseness, difficulty concentrating, back muscle soreness, and dry skin were still present at six weeks postpartum [16] The presence of such symptoms is proof for the physiological deconditioning caused by the antenatal bed rest prescription as well as for the prolonged recovery in the postpartum period. Preliminary findings suggested that women diagnosed with preterm labour may be able to participate safely in an exercise program with minimal risk for increased uterine activity after bedrest exercise Twenty years after this first study, our lab has investigated the effects of a bed-rest-exercise session on hospitalized antenatal women. The primary objective was to implement and monitor a four week bed-rest resistance training program (while listening to music) in a patient hospitalized due to complications during her twin pregnancy. To our knowledge this is the first pilot study investigating the effects of a bed-rest-exercise program in specific hospitalized twin pregnancy cases
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