title: A standardised individual unsupervised water exercise intervention for healthy pregnant women. A qualitative feasibility study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low back pain during pregnancy is common and associated with sick leave. Studies suggest that exercise may reduce low back pain during pregnancy. Before carrying out a randomised controlled trail with individual water exercise as intervention a qualitative feasibility study was done.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore women's views and experiences of the acceptability and benefits of and possible barriers to the standardised individual unsupervised water exercise intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven women were interviewed after participating in a water exercise intervention. Content analysis was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four main categories emerged: motivation to participate, attitudes towards the exercise programme, perception of benefits, and acceptability of supportive components. The women had a desire to stay physically active during pregnancy and found water exercise a suitable, type of exercise to perform during pregnancy. The intervention was experienced to have benefits on both their physical health and their mental well-being. Crowded swimming pools were perceived as the greatest barrier.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is feasible to perform a RCT using the described intervention. The intervention was accepted by the participants because it supported their desire to be physically active during pregnancy. The main barrier was crowded swimming pools and this issue must be addressed in a future RCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, The Juliane Marie Centre for Women, Children and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Roskilde University Hospital, Køgevej, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark. Electronic address: mette.groenbaek.backhausen@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Mette G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Backhausen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, The Juliane Marie Centre for Women, Children and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Malene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katballe
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, The Juliane Marie Centre for Women, Children and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.affiliation: Center of Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; The Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabor
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Pregnant Women with Diabetes, Department of Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Damm
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, The Juliane Marie Centre for Women, Children and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; The Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hanne K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Hegaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000592:standards; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008603:Mental Health; D009042:Motivation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D037841:Pregnant People; D013551:Swimming Pools; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Experience; Feasibility; Intervention; Pregnancy; Water exercise