training trained an average of 2.9 days per
week for approximately 27 minutes per
session throughout their gestation. These
women participated in resistance training
to primarily improve muscular endurance
(lower resistance/higher reps). Specifically,
the majority (72 per cent) reported training
for muscular endurance during the first
trimester, however this increased to 82 per
cent by the third trimester. With regard to
resistance training, approximately half (55
per cent) of the women used free weights,
and 37 per cent used selectorised pin loaded
machines for their resistance training.
Dr White and her co-investigators also
found favourable results in pregnancy
outcomes. With regard to maternal height,
there was no significant difference between
the exerciser groups (RTAE 165cm, AE
165cm) and the non-exercisers (163cm);
however, body mass index was significantly
(p<0.05) higher in the non-exercisers (29.0kg/
m2) and AE (28.7 kg/m2) as compared to
RTAE 25.2 kg/m2. With regard to gestational
diabetes, RTAE had the lowest incidence
at 2.1 per cent compared with NE (5.7 per
cent) and AE (12.1 per cent). Hypertensive
disorders were also the lowest in the RTAE
group (5.3 per cent) followed by NE (13.2 per
cent) and AE (15.4 per cent). Lastly, the birth
weight was similar between RTAE (3.49kg)
and AE (3.51kg), while NE had the lowest
birth weights (3.40kg).
The authors conclude that aerobic and
resistance training exercise completed three
days per week for 30 minutes at an intensity
to maintain muscular endurance did not
increase the risk of adverse pregnancy or
birth outcomes.
Pros: This is a good article supporting the
benefits of combined resistance training and
aerobic exercise in women who are pregnant.
There were a number of positive findings
which support exercising while pregnant.
Personal trainers should take note that
although this study showed benefits from
exercise during pregnancy, it should not be
forgotten that there are also many serious
risks. The optimal health of the child and
mother are the most important outcomes.
As pregnancies can be very different (with
some carrying higher risk of complication), it
is therefore necessary to ensure that medical
guidance and consultation is sought by
women who plan to train during pregnancy.
As many personal trainers are aware, it
is necessary to consult specific published
guidelines (such as those published and
freely available from Sports Medicine
Australia and the American College of Sports
Medicine) on exercise and pregnancy.
Additionally, it is highly recommended
that any women interested in participating
64 | NETWORK AUTUMN 2015
in exercise (resistance training and/or
aerobic) while they are pregnant see their
GP and obstetrician for advice, approval
and patient-specific recommendations.
The
American
Congress
of
Obstetricians
and
Gynecologists’
‘Exercise
During
Pregnancy
and
Postpartum Period’ guidelines (2009) are
available free online, and we would advise
all women considering exercising while
pregnant to read this expert advice.
This
information
contains
both
absolute/relative contraindications to
exercise during pregnancy and warning
signs to terminate exercise while pregnant.
It is important to note that these guidelines
were originally developed 13 years ago
(2002), however they were reconfirmed
by the association in 2009. The
website also has a Frequently Asked
Questions page on Exercise During
Pregnancy, another important read.
A more recent (2014) factsheet
by Exercise is Medicine Austr alia is
available free online.
Cons: The title of the research
paper is somewhat misleading as
the ‘resistance trained’ group also
completed aerobic exercise. It
would have been beneficial to have
a resistance training-only group for
better comparison. It would have
been useful if the researchers had
reported the participants’ exercise
intensity, particularly as the authors
comment on a previous study
utilising low intensity (<3kg).
Also, the finding that AE had a
higher incidence of gestational diabetes
as compared to NE is quite surprising.
The authors attribute this to the possibility
that sedentary women who were found to
have gestational diabetes were advised to
undertake walking, and hence the higher
incidence. However, this illustrates a
methodological problem, as readers we
‘assume’ the exercising groups (RTAE
and AE) were exercising throughout their
entire gestational period. Therefore, the
researchers should reanalyse their data in
order to only include participants who were
exercising (or not exercising) throughout
their entire pregnancy in the analyses.
Associate Professor Mike Climstein, PhD
FASMF FACSM FAAESS is one of Australia’s
leading Accredited Exercise Physiologists and
researchers. [email protected]
Joe Walsh, MSc is a sport and exercise scientist.
As well as working for Charles Darwin and Bond
Universities, he is a director of Fitness Clinic in
Five Dock, Sydney. fitnessclinic.com.au
The 30-second article
• Less than 10 per cent of pregnant
women do any resistance training
• The researchers investigated whether
there was a link between exercise
and birth weight, gestational
duration, preterm labour, mode of
delivery, gestational diabetes,
hypertensive disorders and height
and weight of the newborn
• Positive correlations were found
between certain physical activity and
health markers in pregnant women
• It is advisable for fitness
professionals who train pregnant
women to consult a range of specific
published guidelines.