Bed-rest exercise, activity restriction, and high-risk pregnancies: a feasibility study

Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011 Aug;36(4):577-82. doi: 10.1139/h11-036. Epub 2011 Aug 19.

Abstract

This feasibility study investigated the response of maternal heart rate, blood pressure, and uterine contractions to a 30-min bed-rest exercise session (while listening to music) in hospitalized women with varying diagnoses of high-risk pregnancy. Eleven antenatal women who were hospitalized for activity restriction were assigned randomly to either a bed-rest exercise and music group (n = 6) or a bed-rest and music group (n = 5) that involved no exercise. The key findings were that there were no changes in maternal blood pressure or in the number of uterine contractions following the exercise intervention. A supervised bed-rest exercise intervention may, therefore, provide minimal risks and help alleviate the physiological effects of hospital activity restriction.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bed Rest / methods*
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Motor Activity / physiology*
  • Music
  • Ontario
  • Pilot Projects
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / prevention & control
  • Pregnancy, High-Risk / physiology*
  • Uterine Contraction / physiology