Abstract
There are many concerns about exercise during pregnancy, with medical advice historically dissuading women from continuing or initiating regular exercise programmes. However, research has shown that high levels of exercise are not associated with an increased incidence of negative events. Currently, many women of childbearing age wish to continue with their exercise programmes during pregnancy. Appropriate guidance and exercise counselling by the attending care provider can fulfil this need. This position statement aims to assist pregnant women and their care providers in assessing the merits and benefits of improving and maintaining fitness during this period.
Highlights
This position statement is based on a review of available evidence and international guidelines on exercise in pregnancy and in the postpartum period
Research has shown that high levels of exercise are not associated with an increased incidence of negative events such as infertility, miscarriage, congenital malformation, premature labour, premature rupture of the membranes, placental abruption, cord entanglement, fetal distress, abnormal labour, significant growth restriction or maternal injury.[1]
Patients need to be reminded that exercise needs to be stress relieving and not stress provoking. Current consensus in both obstetrics and sports medicine suggests that exercising during pregnancy results in minimal risk and numerous short- and long-term benefits for both mother and baby
Summary
South African Sports Medicine Association Position Statement on Exercise in Pregnancy. Section Sports Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, and Preggi Bellies South Africa Etti Barsky, MB BCh, MSc (Sports Med). University of the Witwatersrand and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital Trudy Smith, MB BCh, FCOG (SA). Section Sports Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, and Morningside Sports Medicine, Johannesburg Jon Patricios, MB BCh, MMedSci, FACSM, FFSEM (UK). Section Sports Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria Robert Collins, MB BCh, MSc (Sports Med) Maaki Ramagole, MB ChB, MSc (Sports Med). The Centre for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics, Johannesburg Andrew Branfield, MB BCh, MSpMed (UNSW)
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