title: Type of delivery and gestational age is not affected by pregnant Latin-American women engaging in vigorous exercise: a secondary analysis of data from a controlled randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is controversy concerning whether exercise during pregnancy may increase preterm delivery risk and type of delivery. The effect of pregnant Latin-American women engaging in vigorous exercise during the second and third trimester was examined regarding type of delivery and gestational age.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a secondary analysis of data from a controlled randomized trial for determining the influence of physical exercise on pregnant women's endothelial function. The study included 35 nulliparous women, gestational week 16-20 attending prenatal care at three tertiary hospitals in Colombia, who were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group engaged in aerobic exercise involving 55 % - 75 % maximum heart rate for 60 min, three times a week for 12 weeks. The control group engaged in their usual physical activity. Maternal weight, height, weight gain, blood pressure and type of delivery were recorded; gender, abdominal and head circumference (cm), weight (g), height (cm), vitality (Apgar score at 1 and 5 min) and gestational age at the time of delivery (in weeks, days) were recorded for the newborn.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in type of delivery by the end of the 12-week program (p > 0.05), nor regarding newborn anthropometric variables, Apgar score, or maternal variables concerning weight, height, relative weight gain, blood pressure or weeks of gestation (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The potential public health benefits of vigorous exercise were enormous. This study supported existing guidelines indicating that Latin-American women may begin or maintain an on-going exercise program during pregnancy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT00741312.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Fisioterapia, Fundación Universitaria María Cano, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Diana C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Pinzón
authors.affiliation: Programa de Fisioterapia, Fundación Universitaria María Cano, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zamora
authors.affiliation: Programa de Fisioterapia, Fundación Universitaria María Cano, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jorge H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Enfermería y Rehabilitación, Universidad de la Sabana, Chía, Colombia.
authors.forename: María E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Floréz-López
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Nutrición, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Escuela de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Ana C Aguilar
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Plata
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Nutrición, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Escuela de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Mildrey
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosquera
authors.affiliation: Grupo GICAEDS, Facultad de Cultura Física, Deporte y Recreación, Universidad Santoo Tomás.
authors.forename: Robinson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Vélez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D003105:Colombia; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult