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Meireles ALF, Segabinazi E, Spindler C, Rabello T, Mega F, Salvalaggio GDS, Marcuzzo S. Strength training during pregnancy influences hippocampal plasticity but not body development in neonatal rats. JOURNAL OF MUSCULOSKELETAL & NEURONAL INTERACTIONS 2021; 21:279-286. [PMID: 34059573 PMCID: PMC8185255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the effects of strength exercise practice during pregnancy on the offspring's development parameters: growth and motor performance, hippocampal neuroplasticity, and stress levels. METHODS Pregnant Wistar rats were divided into two groups: sedentary and exercised rats. Exercised pregnant rats were subjected to a strength training protocol (vertical ladder climbing) throughout the gestational period. Male offspring's body weight, length, and head size were evaluated during the neonatal period (postnatal days [P]2-P21), as well as motor milestones during P0-P8. At P8, a set of male pups were subjected to global hippocampal DNA methylation, hippocampal cell proliferation, and plasma corticosterone concentration. RESULTS Offspring from trained mothers presented a transient change in body morphometric evaluations, no differences in milestone assessments, enhancement of cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, and decreased global hippocampal DNA methylation compared with the offspring from sedentary mothers. Furthermore, strength training during pregnancy did not change the corticosterone concentration of exercised mothers and their offspring. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that strength training can protect offspring's development and could impact positively on parameters linked to cognitive function. This study provides a greater understanding of the effects of strength exercise practiced during pregnancy on the offspring's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Luís Ferreira Meireles
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil,Corresponding author: André Luís Ferreira Meireles, Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite 500, CEP: 90050-170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil E-mail:
| | - Ethiane Segabinazi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Christiano Spindler
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Tailene Rabello
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Filipe Mega
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Gabriela dos Santos Salvalaggio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Simone Marcuzzo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Tinius R, Rajendran N, Miller L, Menke B, Esslinger K, Maples J, Furgal K. Maternal Factors Related to Infant Motor Development at 4 Months of Age. Breastfeed Med 2020; 15:90-95. [PMID: 31944825 PMCID: PMC7044786 DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2019.0243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Exercise during pregnancy and breastfeeding after pregnancy both positively influence a number of infant outcomes. However, whether physical activity during late pregnancy and breastfeeding postpartum influence motor development in the offspring at 4 months of age is unknown. Research Aim: The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationships between several important modifiable factors (i.e., maternal physical activity during late pregnancy and breastfeeding after pregnancy) on infant motor development at 4 months of age. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three women-infant pairs participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Maternal physical activity was assessed during late pregnancy with wrist-worn accelerometers for 7 consecutive days. Surveys were provided to determine infant feeding practices and other variables that could influence infant motor development. A pediatric board-certified physical therapist assessed infant motor development at 4 months using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. Results: Infants who were exclusively breastfed had the highest motor development percentiles when compared with those whose mothers were supplementing with or using formula exclusively (exclusive breastfeeding: 64.3 ± 20.1, combination of mother's own milk and formula: 43.5 ± 5.0, exclusive formula: 31.5 ± 15.1, p = 0.001). No associations between physical activity levels during late pregnancy and infant motor development percentiles at 4 months were found (sedentary time: r = -0.057, p = 0.75; light activity: r = -0.074, p = 0.68; moderate activity: r = -0.094, p = 0.60). Conclusions: Infants who were exclusively breastfed had higher motor development percentiles at 4 months of age than those infants whose mothers supplemented with or used formula exclusively. Physical activity levels during late pregnancy were not related to infant motor development percentiles, which suggests that physical activities do not appear to be harmful to infant motor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Tinius
- Exercise Science Program, School of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky
| | - Nikitha Rajendran
- Exercise Science Program, School of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky
| | - Lauren Miller
- Exercise Science Program, School of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky
| | - Brenna Menke
- Exercise Science Program, School of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky
| | - Keri Esslinger
- Exercise Science Program, School of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky
| | - Jill Maples
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Karen Furgal
- Department of Physical Therapy, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky
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Kehler AK, Heinrich KM. A selective review of prenatal exercise guidelines since the 1950s until present: Written for women, health care professionals, and female athletes. Women Birth 2015; 28:e93-8. [PMID: 26210535 PMCID: PMC5523977 DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2015.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Revised: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional society values have long-held the notion that the pregnant woman is construed as a risk to her growing fetus and is solely responsible for controlling this risk to ensure a healthy pregnancy. It is hard to ignore the participation of pregnant women in sport and exercise today, especially in high-level sports and popular fitness programs such as CrossFit™. This challenges both traditional and modern prenatal exercise guidelines from health care professionals and governing health agencies. The guidelines and perceived limitations of prenatal exercise have drastically evolved since the 1950s. AIM The goal of this paper is to bring awareness to the idea that much of the information regarding exercise safety during pregnancy is hypersensitive and dated, and the earlier guidelines had no scientific rigor. Research is needed on the upper limits of exercise intensity and exercise frequency, as well as their potential risks (if any) on the woman or fetus. DISCUSSION Pregnant women are physically capable of much more than what was once thought. There is still disagreement about the types of exercise deemed appropriate, the stage at which exercise should begin and cease, the frequency of exercise sessions, as well as the optimal level of intensity during prenatal exercise. CONCLUSION Research is needed to determine the upper limits of exercise frequency and intensity for pregnant women who are already trained. Healthy women and female athletes can usually maintain their regular training regime once they become pregnant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainslie K Kehler
- Functional Intensity Training Lab, Department of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
| | - Katie M Heinrich
- Functional Intensity Training Lab, Department of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
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Abstract
Context: Health professionals who care for pregnant women should discuss potential health benefits and harms of exercise. Although most pregnant women do not meet minimal exercise recommendations, there are a growing number of physically active women who wish to continue training throughout pregnancy. Evidence Acquisition: A search of the Web of Science database of articles and reviews available in English through 2014. The search terms exercise pregnancy, strenuous exercise pregnancy, and vigorous exercise pregnancy were used. Study Design: Clinical review. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Results: With proper attention to risk stratification and surveillance, exercise is safe for the mother and fetus. Benefits of exercise in pregnancy include reduction in Cesarean section rates, appropriate maternal and fetal weight gain, and managing gestational diabetes. Exercise as a means of preventing gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or perinatal depression cannot be reliably supported. Overall, the current evidence suffers from a lack of rigorous study design and compliance with physical activity interventions. Conclusion: Research thus far has been unable to consistently demonstrate proposed benefits of exercise in pregnancy, such as preventing gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or perinatal depression. However, moderate- and high-intensity exercise in normal pregnancies is safe for the developing fetus and clearly has several important benefits. Thus, exercise should be encouraged according to the woman’s preconception physical activity level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally K Hinman
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Kristy B Smith
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - David M Quillen
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - M Seth Smith
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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Abstract
Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and pregnancy-related low back pain (PLBP) are common problems with significant physical, psychological, and socioeconomic implications. There are several management options that are underutilized because of lack of comprehensive knowledge by health-care professionals and fear of harmful effects of treatment on the developing fetus. Interventions such as patient education, the use of pelvic belts, acupuncture, and aquatic and tailored postpartum exercises can be of some benefit to these patients. This article will focus on the diagnosis and management of PGP and PLBP, with discussion of terminology, epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Era Vermani
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK.
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