Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Title

Is supine exercise associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes? A systematic review

Authors

Michelle F. Mottola, Samuel McLaughlin Foundation- Exercise and Pregnancy Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario & Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Children's Health Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario
Taniya S. Nagpal, Samuel McLaughlin Foundation- Exercise and Pregnancy Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario
Roberta Bgeginski, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Margie H. Davenport, Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta
Veronica J. Poitras, ndependent Researcher, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Casey E. Gray, Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Gregory A. Davies, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Kristi B. Adamo, School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Linda G. Slater, John W Scott Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Nick Barrowman, Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Ruben Barakat, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte-INEF, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Stephanie-May Ruchat, Department of Human Kinetics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada

Document Type

Review

Publication Date

1-2019

Issue

2

Journal

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Volume

53

First Page

82

Last Page

89

URL with Digital Object Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099919

Abstract

Objective Theoretical concerns regarding the supine position at rest due to the gravid uterus obstructing aorta and vena caval flow may impinge uterine blood flow (UBF) to the fetus and maternal venous return. Design Systematic review. Data sources Online databases up to 11 December 2017. Study criteria Eligible population (pregnant without contraindication to exercise), intervention (frequency, intensity, duration, volume or type of supine exercise), comparator (no exercise or exercise in left lateral rest position, upright posture or other supine exercise), outcomes (potentially adverse effects on maternal blood pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, oxygen saturation, fetal movements, UBF, fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns; adverse events such as bradycardia, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, perinatal mortality and other adverse events as documented by study authors), and study design (except case studies and reviews) published in English, Spanish, French or Portuguese. Results Seven studies (n=1759) were included. 'Very low' to 'low' quality evidence from three randomised controlled trials indicated no association between supervised exercise interventions that included supine exercise and low birth weight compared with no exercise. There was 'very low' to 'low' quality evidence from four observational studies that showed no adverse events in the mother; however, there were abnormal FHR patterns (as defined by study authors) in 20 of 65 (31%) fetuses during an acute bout of supine exercise. UBF decreased (13%) when women moved from left lateral rest to acute dynamic supine exercise. Conclusion There was insufficient evidence to ascertain whether maternal exercise in the supine position is safe or should be avoided during pregnancy.

This document is currently not available here.

Find in your library

Share

COinS