Association of self‐reported physical fitness with pain during pregnancy: The GESTAFIT Project

Abstract

Aims To explore the association of self‐reported physical fitness with bodily, lumbar and sciatic pain, and pain disability during pregnancy. Methods The present study sample comprised 159 pregnant women (32.9 ± 4.7 years old). Self‐reported physical fitness was assessed with the International Fitness Scale (IFIS), where higher scores indicate greater physical fitness. Bodily pain was assessed with the 36‐Item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36), where higher scores indicate lower pain. Lumbar and sciatic pain were measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS). The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire was employed to assess the disability resulting from pain. Measures were assessed at 16th and 34th gestational weeks (g. w.). Results Pregnant women showed low‐moderate pain during pregnancy course. Most of them showed medium self‐reported overall physical fitness. At 16th g. w., greater self‐reported overall physical fitness and cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with less bodily and lumbar pain, and pain disability (all, P < 0.05). Greater muscular strength was associated with less bodily pain and pain disability (both, P < 0.05). Greater speed‐agility was associated with less bodily pain (P < 0.01) and less pain disability (P < 0.05). Self‐reported flexibility was not associated with any outcome (P > 0.05). At 34th g. w., greater overall physical fitness and its components were associated with less bodily and sciatic pain (all, P < 0.05). Conclusion Greater self‐reported overall physical fitness and its components are associated with less bodily, lumbar and sciatic pain, and reduced pain disability during pregnancy. Future studies are needed to explore whether increasing physical fitness before and during pregnancy could decrease pain in this relevant stage.

Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire

“…However, exercising during pregnancy helps maintain a stable psychological state. Exercise not only alleviates the stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms that occur during pregnancy [2], but also reduces the duration and pain of labor and facilitates postpartum recovery [7]. A meta-analysis of the impact of physical activity on pregnant women reported that moderate-intensity activities lower excessive pregnancy weight gain, pregnancy diabetes, and postpartum depression [11].…”

“…Third, total activity is the sum of the duration and intensity of all activities and is calculated using the following equation: total activity = sum (duration × intensity) (items #4-36). Total activity (≥light-intensity activity) = sum (duration × intensity) (items #4, 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,32,33,34,35,36, and #30 or 31 with >1.5 METS).…”

“…Recently, however, moderate exercise has been suggested to help pregnant women adjust to the various physical, psychological, and social changes that occur from conception to delivery [6]. Exercising during pregnancy helps maintain a stable psychological state, and not only alleviates the stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms that occur during pregnancy [2], but also reduces the duration and pain of labor and facilitates postpartum recovery [7].…”

The Effect of Pender’s Health Promotion Model-based Education on the Physical Activity among Pregnant Women

“…ACOG has also recommended moderate physical activities for 150 minutes a week or moderate physical activities for 30 minutes on most weekdays for all women lacking midwifery or medical problems and complications [11] . There is remarkable evidence confirming that conducting physical activity during pregnancy is associated with reduced diabetes [12] , reducedpretermdelivery [13] , preserving and improving the cardiovascular activities, fitness, physical vigor, and reduced back pain and sciatica [14] , reduced risk of suffering from preeclampsia [15] , improved sleep during pregnancy [1] , reduced depression during pregnancy and later [16] , reduced urinary problems [17] , and improved quality of life [18] .In addition to the aforementioned benefits, various studies have indicated that fetal heart rate as well as fetal birth weight are not influenced by harmful effects in healthy mothers who conduct moderate physical activities [19] ; during and after the physical activities, the fetal heart rate increases by 10 to 30 rate in comparison to the basic heart rate [20] . The maternal physical activity level is inversely related to the fetal weight; in pregnancies associated with moderate physical activities, the fetus enjoys a normal weight.…”

Objective and subjective measures of physical functioning in women with fibromyalgia: what type of measure is associated most clearly with subjective well-being?

“…The epidemiological study of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and physical fitness usually relies on self-reports [13][14][15]. A major strength of self-reported assessments is that they give an account of what the person really experiences and perceives.…”