title: The Elite Athlete and Strenuous Exercise in Pregnancy.
abstract: Highly trained women continue to exercise during pregnancy, but there is little information available to guide them, and their health care providers, in how to maximize performance without jeopardizing the maternal-fetal unit. Available evidence focusing on average women who perform regular vigorous exercise suggests that this activity is helpful in preventing several maladies of pregnancy, with little to no evidence of harm. However, some studies have shown that there may be a limit to how intense an elite performer should exercise during pregnancy. Health care providers should monitor these women athletes carefully, to build trust and understanding.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Kinesiology and Epidemiology & Biostatistics ‡Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan †Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pivarnik
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Szymanski
authors.forename: Michelle R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Conway
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D012306:Risk