title: An overview of maternal and fetal short and long-term impact of physical activity during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore information available in the literature about the possible benefits resulting from physical activity (PA) in non-risky pregnant women, repercussion on maternal organism, fetal development, and on long-term offspring health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Critical narrative review using online databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Through critical discussion of studies focused on PA practiced during pregnancy, it was observed that some of the outcomes investigated on both mother and offspring showed conflicting findings. Considering the impact of maternal PA in certain offspring characteristics, due to the fact that their findings come from studies with small samples, they do not allow the stablishment of scientific evidence. However, a feature that shows broad consensus among studies is the view of PA during pregnancy as a safe intervention for mother and fetus. In situations where studies employing PA of moderate-intensity have not enough power to ensure a positive influence on certain clinical outcomes, what is observed is the lack of their influence, not negative impacts. Regarding epigenetic modulations measured late in the offspring, it has been attributed to PA a positive modulatory role on metabolic, hemodynamic and even on behavioral characteristics. However, possible mechanisms involved in these epigenetic changes have not been sufficiently explored.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal PA appears to be safe for both mother and fetus, and additional studies are needed to confirm the real influence of this practice in the offspring, as well as the perpetuation and transfer of these features between generations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Ferreira
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Simony Lira
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Discipline of General Pathology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Rua Frei Paulino No. 30, Bairro Nossa Senhora da Abadia, Uberaba, MG, 38025-180, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Rodrigues
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Helmo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Discipline of General Pathology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Rua Frei Paulino No. 30, Bairro Nossa Senhora da Abadia, Uberaba, MG, 38025-180, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Luíza Gonçalves
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dos Reis Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Discipline of General Pathology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Rua Frei Paulino No. 30, Bairro Nossa Senhora da Abadia, Uberaba, MG, 38025-180, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marlene Antônia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dos Reis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Discipline of General Pathology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Rua Frei Paulino No. 30, Bairro Nossa Senhora da Abadia, Uberaba, MG, 38025-180, Brazil. rosana@patge.uftm.edu.br.
authors.forename: Rosana Rosa Miranda
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Corrêa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012306:Risk; D013995:Time
keywords: Child development; Exercise; Long-term effects; Pregnancy outcome; Risk