Physical activity during pregnancy : a systematic review for the assessment of current evidence with future recommendations

Cilar Budler, Leona (author), Budler, Marko (author)

Background: Physical activity is essential to maternal and infant health. Healthcare professionals should inform pregnant women about benefits of physical activity to prevent possible health issues. Those recommendations should elaborate on relevant contemporary evidence. The aim of this study was to review evidence-based recommendations for physical activity during pregnancy. Methods: A systematic search, analysis and synthesis of conducted randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted from October 2021 to June 2022 in following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, ScienceDirect and Web of Science. Literature was searched using inclusion and exclusion criteria and following PRISMA recommendations. Results: Benefits for pregnant-women health and well-being were reported while performing aerobic exercise, lumbar stabilization and stretching exercise, water exercise, nerve and tendon-slip exercise, resistance training and strength training. For all exercise modalities it is recommended to perform moderate intensity activities during the whole time of pregnancy. Conclusions: This systematic literature review supplements current knowledge on physical activity of pregnant women. Exercise interventions are listed and suggested in an integrative model with physical-fitness components to contextualize and promote physical activity among pregnant women.

• Language: English
• Keywords: pregnancy, recreation, sports, exercise, intervention, sport, lifestyle, health outcome
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: EF - School of Economics and Business
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 16.07.2022
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: Str. 1-14
• Numbering: Vol. 14, art. 133
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-138800
• UDC: 616-057
• ISSN on article: 2052-1847
• DOI: 10.1186/s13102-022-00524-z
• COBISS.SI-ID: 117022211
• Publication date in RUL: 18.08.2022

CILAR BUDLER, Leona and BUDLER, Marko, 2022, Physical activity during pregnancy : a systematic review for the assessment of current evidence with future recommendations. BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation [online]. 2022. Vol. 14, no. 133, p. 1–14. [Accessed 17 May 2025]. DOI 10.1186/s13102-022-00524-z. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=138800

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation
• Shortened title: BMC sports sci., med. rehabil.
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• ISSN: 2052-1847
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523009561

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: nosečnost, rekreacija, šport