Background and objectives: Hypertension in pregnancy is one of the most important unsolved problems in midwifery, and since it is the main cause of maternal death, preventive intervention measures are essential to control this serious complication. This study aimed to determine the effect of walking on gestational hypertension disorders in women prone to hypertension.
Materials and methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 72 pregnant women susceptible to gestational hypertension who were randomly (through a random number table) assigned into two groups of 36. The pregnant women in the experimental group had walking program for 20-30 min from weeks 14-34, four times a week. Data were analyzed, via independent t-test, Fisher's exact test, and Chi-square test.
Results: The results indicated that in the experimental group, 2 cases with transient gestational hypertension and 1 case of preeclampsia existed, and in the control group, 9 pregnant women were with gestational hypertension and 4 pregnant women were with preeclampsia. Therefore, the incidence of these two complications in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the experimental group were significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results, the moderate walking, as an easy physical activity, is recommended for pregnant women susceptible to pregnancy hypertension.
Keywords: Hypertension in pregnancy; physical activity; preeclampsia; walking.