title: Effect of aerobic dance on cardiorespiratory fitness in pregnant women: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of aerobic dance on cardiorespiratory fitness in pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two primiparous women with a mean age of 30.6 [standard deviation (SD) 3.7] years randomised to exercise (n=34) and (n=28) control groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two aerobic dance classes per week and 30 minutes of daily self-imposed physical activity for 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiorespiratory fitness, assessed using a submaximal treadmill test to establish oxygen uptake (VO2) (ml/kg/minute) at three different levels of blood lactate. Levels 1, 2 and 3 were calculated and defined as 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mmol/l above resting blood lactate level, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The women in the exercise group attended a mean of 20 (SD 12) out of 24 aerobic dance classes. Both groups had a small significant decrease in VO2 between baseline and post-intervention: the exercise group decreased from 25.8 (SD 3.3) to 24.5 (SD 3.8) ml/kg/minute and the control group decreased from 25.8 (SD 3.1) to 24.5 (SD 2.5) ml/kg/minute at Level 3 (anaerobic threshold) (mean difference in change at Level 3=0.1, 95% confidence interval -1.4 to 1.7; P=0.89). There were no differences in change between the groups at any level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 12-week aerobic dance programme had no effect on cardiorespiratory fitness in pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, P.O. Box 4014, Ullevål Stadion, 0806 Oslo, Norway. silje.halvorsen@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Silje
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
authors.forename: Lene A H
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Haakstad
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Edvardsen
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bø
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003615:Dancing / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D009664:Norway; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates