Effects of Resistance Exercise During Pregnancy

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Pregnancy
• Interventions: Behavioral: Resistance exercise; Other: Wait list; Other: Education

• Registration Number: NCT02557893
• Lead Sponsor: University of Georgia

Brief Summary

Pregnant women at increased risk for back pain were studied during the second trimester and randomized to12-weeks of resistance exercise, education or waitlist. Several outcomes were assessed including physical function, quality of life and mood.

Detailed Description

A parallel group trial was completed at a single site. Second trimester women (n=134) were randomly assigned (in blocks of 3) to 12-weeks of wait list, bi-monthly pregnancy education classes or twice weekly low-to-moderate intensity resistance training. Resistance training involved one abdominal exercise with no external load and five exercises with an external load that gradually progressed (leg extension, leg press, arm lat pull, leg curl, and lumbar extension). Several outcomes were assessed including physical function, quality of life and mood.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2006-04
• Primary Completion: 2007-10
• Study Completion: 2007-10
• Status Verified: 2015-09
• Study First Submitted: 2015-09-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-09-22
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-09-22
• Study First Posted: 2015-09-23
• Last Update Posted: 2015-09-23

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 134

Inclusion Criteria

• Pregnant and able to complete baseline testing during gestational week 21 to 25 of pregnancy.

Exclusion Criteria

• Regular resistance exercise training (≥ twice per week during the past month)

• an orthopedic or cardiovascular limitation

• a psychiatric disorder

• or had in the current or a prior pregnancy any of the following:

  • two or more miscarriages
  • premature labor
  • placental previa,
  • poor fetal growth,
  • low pre-pregnancy body weight (BMI < 17.5)
  • a multiple birth pregnancy
  • pre-eclampsia
  • preterm rupture of membranes
  • uterine growth retardation
  • incompetent cervix/cerclage
  • recurrent vaginal bleeding
  • anemia or
  • diabetes.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Resistance exercise	Resistance exercise	Resistance exercise involved 12 weeks of weight lifting exercise
Wait list	Wait list	Wait list participants were tested on the outcomes during their pregnancy and were eligible to participate in a post-partum supervised exercise program. The wait list participants formed a no treatment control group.
Pregnancy education	Education	Maternity nurses taught six bimonthly pregnancy education classes (\~20 per class) which covered several topics including information about what to expect during normal labor and delivery, common interventions during delivery (medications, induction, Cesarean delivery), parenting skills needed for baby care, breastfeeding, baby and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation, typical child development and communicating with infants. No physical activity education was included in the curriculum. The pregnancy education participants formed an attention control group.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mood measured using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire.	Change from week 21 to 35 of pregnancy	The intervention occurred from weeks 22 to 34 of pregnancy and the outcomes were measured the week before and after the intervention.
Physical function measured with physical tests such as time to make a bed, get up and down off the floor and pick up scarves from the floor.	Change from week 21 to 35 of pregnancy	The intervention occurred from weeks 22 to 34 of pregnancy and the outcomes were measured the week before and after the intervention.
Quality of life measured using the Short Form 36 Healthy Survey.	Change from week 21 to 35 of pregnancy	The intervention occurred from weeks 22 to 34 of pregnancy and the outcomes were measured the week before and after the intervention.