The Effect of Aerobic Exercises on Maternal Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

<strong>Background:</strong> Exercise can play a major role in health during pregnancy. Therefore, it is essential to consider the physiological conditions of females regarding the exercise. <strong>Objectives:</strong> The present study aimed to determine the effect of a cycle of exercises on pregnancy outcomes. <strong>Methods:</strong> In this clinical trial, 120 pregnant females referring to Shiraz hospitals in 2015 were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group subjects were required to do aerobic exercises for eight weeks since the 20th week of gestation in addition to receiving the routine care. However, mothers in the control group only received the routine pregnancy care. Then, pregnancy outcomes such as length of pregnancy, delivery phases, type of delivery and infants' physiological indexes such as Apgar score, weight, height and head circumference were measured. Finally, the data were transferred into the SPSS statistical software and analyzed using T-test and Chi-square test. <strong>Results:</strong> The two study groups were similar based on their age, level of education, income, employment status and satisfaction with their husbands. Also, no significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the length of pregnancy, weight, height and Apgar score at birth. However, a significant difference was observed between the two groups concerning type of delivery, duration of active phase of delivery and pain intensity in the active phase of delivery. In addition, back pain intensity significantly decreased in the intervention group, but increased with progress in pregnancy in the control group. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Special attention is paid to supportive methods such as exercising during pregnancy in the recent years. Exercising has positive effects on mothers and infants health. Thus, these exercises are recommended to be incorporated in pregnancy care.