title: Physical efficiency and activity energy expenditure in term pregnancy females measured during cardiopulmonary exercise tests with a supine cycle ergometer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate physical efficiency and activity energy expenditure (AEE) in term pregnancy females during cardiopulmonary exercise tests with a supine cycle ergometer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised 22 healthy full-term pregnancy women with uncomplicated pregnancies hospitalized in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Specialist Teaching Hospital in Tychy, Poland. All subjects underwent cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) on a supine cycle ergometer. The 12-min, three-stage, progressive, symptom-limited submaximal test protocol (up to 80% HRmax) was used. Pulsometry was used to record HR on a beat-to-beat analysis and to calculate AEE. Respiratory responses were measured by ergospirometer and a computer system on a breath-by-breath basis at rest, during exercise and at restitution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the studied population, VO2max was established at the level of 2.19 ± 0.33 L/min in ergospirometry and 2.04 ± 025 L/min in pulsometry. Physical efficiency calculated for sub-maximal exercise by use of the Davis equation was 30.52 ± 0.12%. AEE, based on VO2 in various phases of the CPET, was 0.47, 0.71 and 0.88 L/min for phases 25, 50 and 75 W. Based on ergospirometer readouts, AEE was 10.60, 16.11 and 20.94 kJ/min for phases 25, 50 and 75 W. Overall mean AEE (determined by pulsometry) was 10.59  kJ/min. CPET testing did not have any negative effect upon the health or life of the neonates involved in the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Submaximal CPET up to 80% HRmax with a supine cycle ergometer is a safe and precise method for assessing work efficiency in term pregnancy women.
authors: a Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Specialist Teaching Hospital in Tychy , Tychy , Poland and.
authors: Maciej
authors: M
authors: Jędrzejko
authors: a Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Specialist Teaching Hospital in Tychy , Tychy , Poland and.
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Nowosielski
authors: a Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Specialist Teaching Hospital in Tychy , Tychy , Poland and.
authors: Ryszard
authors: R
authors: Poręba
authors: a Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Specialist Teaching Hospital in Tychy , Tychy , Poland and.|b Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Bielsko-Biała , Bielsko-Biała , Poland.
authors: Izabela
authors: I
authors: Ulman-Włodarz
authors: b Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Bielsko-Biała , Bielsko-Biała , Poland.
authors: Rafał
authors: R
authors: Bobiński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D016552:Ergometry / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011247:Pregnancy; D016683:Supine Position; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiopulmonary exercise test; energy expenditure; physical efficiency; pregnancy; supine cycle ergometer