title: Pregnant women maintain body temperatures within safe limits during moderate-intensity aqua-aerobic classes conducted in pools heated up to 33 degrees Celsius: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  What is the body temperature response of healthy pregnant women exercising at moderate intensity in an aqua-aerobics class where the water temperature is in the range of 28 to 33 degrees Celsius, as typically found in community swimming pools?
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and nine women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy who were enrolled in a standardised aqua-aerobics class.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tympanic temperature was measured at rest pre-immersion (T1), after 35minutes of moderate-intensity aqua-aerobic exercise (T2), after a further 10minutes of light exercise while still in the water (T3) and finally on departure from the facility (T4). The range of water temperatures in seven indoor community pools was 28.8 to 33.4 degrees Celsius.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body temperature increased by a mean of 0.16 degrees Celsius (SD 0.35, p<0.001) at T2, was maintained at this level at T3 and had returned to pre-immersion resting values at T4. Regression analysis demonstrated that the temperature response was not related to the water temperature (T2 r = -0.01, p = 0.9; T3 r = -0.02, p=0.9; T4 r=0.03, p=0.8). Analysis of variance demonstrated no difference in body temperature response between participants when grouped in the cooler, medium and warmer water temperatures (T2 F=0.94, p=0.40; T3 F=0.93, p=0.40; T4 F=0.70, p=0.50).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthy pregnant women maintain body temperatures within safe limits during moderate-intensity aqua-aerobic exercise conducted in pools heated up to 33 degrees Celsius. The study provides evidence to inform guidelines for safe water temperatures for aqua-aerobic exercise during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department.
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Brearley
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sherburn
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville.
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.affiliation: Statistical Consulting Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Sandy J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People; D013551:Swimming Pools; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Aqua-aerobics; Exercise; Pregnancy; Temperature; Water temperature