title: Effects of Exercise-Based Interventions on Neonatal Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) assessing the influence of physical exercise interventions during pregnancy on some neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  
  Key words were used to conduct a computerized search in six databases: Cochrane Library Plus, Science Direct, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov.
  
  
  
  RCTs that included an exercise program for healthy pregnant women who were sedentary or had low levels of physical activity were selected.
  
  
  
  Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the quality of the studies included. Of 4296 articles retrieved, 14 RCTs (3044 pregnant women) met the inclusion criteria.
  
  
  
  Pooled effect sizes (ESs) were calculated using a fixed model.
  
  
  
  Overall, physical exercise programs during pregnancy produced a small reduction in neonatal birth weight (ES = -.10; p = .04). The Apgar score at 1 minute was also weakly increased with combined exercise (aerobic, strength, and flexibility) (ES = .09; p = .048) and no differences between groups were observed in gestational age at delivery and Apgar score at 5 minutes.
  
  
  
  Structured physical exercise programs during pregnancy appear to be safe for the neonate, mainly favoring a lower birth weight within normal range. However, more studies are needed to establish recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Virgen de la Luz Hospital, Cuenca, Spain.
authors.forename: Gema
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanabria-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Chile.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Hermoso
authors.affiliation: Virgen de la Luz Hospital, Cuenca, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poyatos-León
authors.affiliation: Social and Health Care Research Centre, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-García
authors.affiliation: Social and Health Care Research Centre, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain School of Education, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Mairena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-López
authors.affiliation: Social and Health Care Research Centre, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain vicente.martinez@uclm.es.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martínez-Vizcaíno
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D057185:Sedentary Behavior
keywords: Apgar score; birth weight; exercise; gestational age; physical activity; pregnancy