title: Comparison of static postural stability in exercising and non-exercising women during the perinatal period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the study was to determine whether women who exercised during and after pregnancy had better static postural stability compared to those who did not exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Posturographic tests were performed in 31 women at 34-39 weeks gestation, and again at 6-10 weeks postpartum. The center of pressure mean velocity (with directional subcomponents) and sway area were computed from 30-s quiet standing trials on a stationary force plate with eyes open or closed. The women were surveyed about their lifestyle and physical activity in the perinatal period. Based on the survey, 12 of the women were assigned as regular exercisers and 19 as non-exercisers. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare data of the exercisers and the non-exercisers in their advanced pregnancy and again at 2 months postpartum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postural sway measures were not significantly different between the exercisers and the non-exercisers in advanced pregnancy and at 2 months postpartum (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individually performed physical activity during the perinatal period did not affect pregnant/postpartum women's postural stability characteristics of quiet standing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy in Internal Diseases, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Opala-Berdzik
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Motor Behavior, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bacik
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy in Internal Diseases, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy of the Nervous and Locomotor Systems, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cieślińska-Świder
authors.affiliation: Institute of Computer Science, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Swider
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Motor Behavior, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sobota
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Błaszczyk
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D011187:Posture; D011247:Pregnancy