Efficacy of regular physical exercise during gestation on maternal and perinatal outcomes: a randomized clinical trial

Authors

  • Edison Sotalin Nivela
  • Carlos Troya Altamirano
  • José Luis García Delgado

Keywords:

physical exercise, postpartum rehabilitation, gestational diabetes, cesarean delivery, operative vaginal delivery

Abstract

Introduction: The analysis of the relationship between physical exercise during gestation and maternoperinatal variables requires new studies.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of regular physical exercise during gestation on maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnant women in a clinic in the city of Santo Domingo, Ecuador, in the year 2022, by means of a randomized clinical trial.

Methods: It was a randomized clinical trial, being an experimental, analytical, longitudinal and prospective research. The study sample consisted of 124 pregnant women, divided into two groups of 62 women each (experimental and control). The chi-square test was used for dichotomous categorical dependent variables. The postpartum recovery period variable did not present a normal distribution in the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, so the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U statistic was used.

Results: A lower incidence of gestational diabetes (21 % vs 46.8 %; p=0.002) and cesarean delivery (27.4 % vs 58.1 %; p<0.001) was observed in the exercise group compared to the control group. There were no differences in operative vaginal delivery between groups (p>0.05). The postpartum recovery period was significantly shorter in the exercise group (p<0.001).

Conclusions: The regular physical exercise program during gestation showed multiple maternoperinatal benefits, including a significant reduction in the risk of gestational diabetes, cesarean delivery, and duration of the postpartum rehabilitation period. Therefore, the alternative hypothesis of superiority of prenatal exercise over standard prenatal care in improving obstetric and perinatal outcomes is accepted.

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Published

2024-04-02

How to Cite

1.
Sotalin Nivela E, Troya Altamirano C, García Delgado JL. Efficacy of regular physical exercise during gestation on maternal and perinatal outcomes: a randomized clinical trial. Rev Cubana Inv Bioméd [Internet]. 2024 Apr. 2 [cited 2025 Aug. 18];43. Available from: https://revibiomedica.sld.cu/index.php/ibi/article/view/3262