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. 2024 Mar 18;13(6):1738.
doi: 10.3390/jcm13061738.

New Public Health and Sport Medicine Institutions Guidelines of Physical Activity Intensity for Pregnancy-A Scoping Review

Aneta Worska  1 , Ida Laudańska-Krzemińska  1 , Julia Ciążyńska  1 , Beata Jóźwiak  1 , Janusz Maciaszek  1
Affiliations

New Public Health and Sport Medicine Institutions Guidelines of Physical Activity Intensity for Pregnancy-A Scoping Review

Aneta Worska et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background: Before starting PA, pregnant women should select the appropriate type of training and adjust its components to the development of pregnancy and her capabilities. This review aimed to analyze current recommendations for pregnant women on methods for determining and assessing PA intensity levels and characterize the extent and nature of the information provided to pregnant women in official documents published by public health and sports medicine institutions. Methods: The review was conducted as per the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We searched scientific databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, and SPORTDiscus with Full Text via EBSCO) and the Internet to identify papers regarding recommendations for the PA intensity level for pregnant women. We analyzed 22 eligible guidelines, published over the last 10 years in English, from nine countries and three international organizations. Results: The PA of pregnant women should be at a moderate level. As for higher levels, the analyzed recommendations are contradictory. Methods for assessing PA intensity levels are often not included. The most frequently recommended methods for determining and assessing the PA intensity level for pregnant women are the rating of perceived exertion, the Talk Test, and heart rate measurements. Few guidelines offer specific advice for highly active women (e.g., elite athletes) or trimester-specific considerations. Conclusions: The number of published recommendations regarding PA during pregnancy has increased over the last decade. The amount of information on PA intensity levels is still insufficient. There is a need to update them, based on high-quality scientific work.

Keywords: exercise; guidelines; intensity; physical activity; pregnancy; recommendations.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of the screening and paper selection process (PRISMA flowchart) [23].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of recommended physical activity intensity levels for pregnant women in the analyzed 22 public health and sports medicine institutions’ guidelines issued between 2014 and 2024.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of recommended methods of monitoring physical activity intensity for pregnant women in the analyzed 22 public health and sports medicine institutions’ guidelines issued between 2014 and 2024.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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