The effects of a submaximal graded exercise test on mean arterial pressure in pregnancy: A cross-sectional analysis — ASN Events
  1. Schedule
  2. Poster Listing: Preconception, pregnancy, postpartum and intrapartum health of women and babies
  3. The effects of a submaximal graded exercise test on mean arterial pressure in pregnancy: A cross-sectional analysis

The effects of a submaximal graded exercise test on mean arterial pressure in pregnancy: A cross-sectional analysis (#57)

Courtney Giles 1 , Kassia Beetham 1 , Jemima Spathis 1 , Rich Johnston 1 2
  1. ACU, Brisbane, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  2. Carnegie Applied Rugby Research Centre (CARR), Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK

Background:

Pregnancy is a prolonged cardiovascular stress test, prompting adaptations from early gestation to delivery. As resting vascular resistance decreases with gestation, acute vascular responses to exercise may vary. Increased natural vasodilation during pregnancy might restrict vessel adaptation to additional stress like exercise. Limited research on higher-intensity pregnancy exercise suggests no significant advantage over moderate exercise.

This study aims to assess the immediate effects of vigorous intensity exercise at various gestational weeks (GW) on vascular function, specifically mean arterial pressure (MAP).

 

Methods:

Thirty-four pregnant women (GW 5-33) underwent a graded submaximal (≤85%HRmax) treadmill test. Outcome measures were taken prior to exercise, 1-5 minutes post exercise and again 10-15 minutes post exercise. The primary outcome measures included: MAP, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), foetal HR (FHR) and arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV). Linear regression analysis was performed using SPSS.

 

Results:

Of the 34 participants (32.5 ± 3.6 years, 19.4 ± 7.1 weeks), 23 successfully reached 85% of their age predicted HRmax (total participant range 74-86%). There was a significant association between ΔMAP from resting to immediately post exercise and time on test (β = 0.416, p=0.01) and %HRmax (β = 0.448, p<0.01), with GW approaching significance (β = 0.264, p=0.09) (R2=0.335, p = 0.006). Average BP returned to baseline levels by 10 minutes post exercise despite vast differences in the time spent exercising (10.47–17.01 minutes) and the intensity of exercise (74-86 %HRmax). The ΔPWV from rest to immediately post varied (range = -0.65-2.35m.s1) and was not associated with GW. There were no adverse responses in FHR to exercise (range 135-160bpm).

 

Conclusions:

Vigorous exercise may offer added cardiovascular benefits in pregnancy by eliciting a greater haemodynamic response. However, this benefit may vary by stage of gestation, and requires further longitudinal research for optimisation of exercise prescription in pregnancy.

#qldwomenshealthforum2024