The effects of an exercise programme during pregnancy on health-related quality of life in pregnant women: a Norwegian randomised controlled trial.

Abstract

To investigate whether a customised exercise programme influences pregnant women's psychological wellbeing and general health perception reflecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in late pregnancy. A two-armed, two-centred randomised controlled trial. Trondheim and Stavanger University Hospitals, Norway. A total of 855 healthy Caucasian pregnant women. The intervention group was offered a 12-week exercise programme between 20 and 36weeks of pregnancy. One weekly group session was led by physiotherapists, in addition women were encouraged to follow a home exercise programme at least twice a week. The exercise programme followed standard recommendations and included both aerobic and strength training. The control group received regular antenatal care. Pretests and post-tests were performed at 18-22 and 32-36weeks of pregnancy. In the original study primary outcome was gestational diabetes mellitus, but in this report the primary outcome is HRQoL. The questionnaire Psychological General Wellbeing Index (PGWBI) was used to assess psychological wellbeing and self-perceived general health before and after the intervention. PGWBI contains six subscales and it is also possible to summarise all items to a global score. No association between antenatal exercise programme allocation and PGWBI (global score and subscales) was found. The study population was homogeneous and had high educational level. The results indicate that offering women an exercise programme during pregnancy does not seem to influence healthy pregnant women's psychological wellbeing and self-perceived general health. Further research is needed to investigate the effects of exercise in pregnancy on psychological wellbeing and self-perceived general health among women from different sociocultural subgroups. Exercise in pregnancy does not influence healthy pregnant women's health-related quality of life.