title: Effects of yoga intervention during pregnancy: a review for current status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to review all randomized control trials (RCTs) that have looked at the health effects of yoga on pregnancy, and to present their evidence on the specific ways in which pregnant women, and their infants can benefit from yoga intervention. The purpose is also to determine whether yoga intervention during pregnancy is more beneficial than other physical exercises.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four databases were searched using the terms "yoga and (pregnancy or pregnant or prenatal or postnatal or postpartum)." Databases were searched from January 2004 to February 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten randomized controlled trials were evaluated. The findings consistently indicate that yoga intervention presented with lower incidences of prenatal disorders (p ≤ 0.05), and small gestational age (p < 0.05), lower levels of pain and stress (p < 0.05), and higher score of relationship (p < 0.05). In addition, yoga can be safely used for pregnant women who are depressed, at high-risk, or experience lumbopelvic pain. Moreover, yoga is a more effective exercise than walking or standard prenatal exercises.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that yoga is a safe and more effective intervention during pregnancy. However, further RCTs are needed to provide firmer evidence regarding the utility and validity of yoga intervention.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qinxian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Changzhi University, Changzhi, China.
authors.forename: Zhengguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department Speech and Hearing Sciences, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Jenae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dunlop
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Peijie
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015013:Yoga