Exercise during pregnancy improves maternal health perception: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

We have studied the effect of moderate physical activity that is performed by healthy women during their entire pregnancy on their perception of health status.

STUDY DESIGN

Eighty sedentary women were assigned randomly to either an exercise group (n = 40) or a control group (n = 40). Maternal perception of health status and several pregnancy outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Significant differences (P = .03) were found between study groups in the percentage of women who perceived their health status as "very good"; the values that corresponded to the exercise group (n = 18; 54.5%) were better than those of the control group (n = 9; 27.3%). In addition, the women of the exercise group gained less weight (11,885 ± 3146 g) than those of the control group (13,903 ± 2113; P = .03).

CONCLUSION

A moderate physical activity program that is performed over the first, second, and third trimester of pregnancy improves the maternal perception of health status.