title: Muscle strengthening exercises during pregnancy are associated with increased energy and reduced fatigue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical inactivity likely contributes to fatigue and low energy during pregnancy but whether acute resistance exercise attenuates these symptoms is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six women performed six low-to-moderate intensity resistance exercises twice per week from weeks 23 to 35 of pregnancy and measurements were made before and after each workout using the Mental and Physical State Energy and Fatigue Scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute resistance exercise usually increased perceived physical and mental energy (92% to 96% of workouts, respectively). These increases did not differ significantly across the 24 exercise sessions for feelings of physical energy or mental energy, even after adjusting for variations in attendance (median = 22/24 workouts). Acute resistance exercise usually decreased perceived physical and mental fatigue (79% to 88% of workouts, respectively), and ANCOVA showed these decreases did not differ significantly across the 24 exercise sessions for feelings of physical fatigue or mental fatigue even after adjusting for variations in attendance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest acute, low-to-moderate intensity muscle strengthening exercise during pregnancy is effective for transiently improving feelings of energy and fatigue.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology , University of Rhode Island , Kingston , RI , USA .
authors.forename: Christie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ward-Ritacco
authors.affiliation: b Department of Health and Fitness Management , Clayton State University , Morrow , GA , USA , and.
authors.forename: Mélanie S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Poudevigne
authors.affiliation: c Department of Kinesiology , University of Georgia , Athens , GA , USA.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005221:Fatigue / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D005222:Mental Fatigue / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mood; pregnancy; resistance exercise; vigor; weight lifting