Acute maternal exercise during the third trimester of pregnancy, influence on foetal heart rate = Ejercicio físico durante el tercer trimestre de embarazo, influencia en la frecuencia cardiaca fetal

A substantial amount of research has investigated the influence of physical exercise during pregnancy on certain maternal and foetal parameters. Regarding the behaviour of the foetal heart rate (FHR) during the maternal exercise certain controversy exists; as several investigations have studied this parameter obtaining varied results. To test the hypotheses that the foetal heart rate (FHR) increases during maternal exercise, performed on a static bicycle during the third trimester. To know if the magnitude of the increase is related to gestational age or parity. This research involved a collaboration with the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Service of “Severo Ochoa” Hospital (Madrid) and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). The approval of the Committee of Investigation as well as of the Ethical Commission of the Hospital was obtained. Twenty healthy pregnant women have been studied, in the last trimester. No women showed any medical complications in their pregnancy or contraindications for the practice of physical exercise. Informed consent was obtained. The exercise protocol consisted in the first part (rest), followed by a session of 20 minutes of moderate work (static bicycle exercise) and then rest until the FHR returned to the pre-exercise levels. Data for the evaluation of the FHR was obtained using an Electronic Foetal Monitor, Philips FM 20; and an Accurex Plus, Polar Electro OY was used for the control of the maternal heart rate. The clinical history of the pregnant women provided data about medical and personal factors. For the statistical analysis, Pearson correlation and Student’s t test for unpaired data were used. Our results show increases (11 - 36 beats/min, mean= 24 beats/min) of the FHR in all the studied cases. The gestational age shows no correlation with increments of FHR (Pearson 0.06) and there are larger increments of FHR in secundigravid (mean=152 ± 6.0 beats/min) than in primigravid (mean=147 ± 4.6 beats/min). Maternal aerobic and moderate exercise developing during last trimester increments FHR without harmful effects. These increments do not depend on the maternal age. Parity has influence on the level of increments of the FHR. Una cantidad importante de investigaciones han valorado la influencia del ejercicio físico durante el embarazo en ciertos parámetros fetales. En relación al comportamiento de la frecuencia cardiaca fetal (FCF) durante la realización del ejercicio existe cierta controversia, muchas investigaciones han estudiado este parámetro con resultados variados. El objetivo de este estudio fue comprobar la hipótesis de un aumento de la FCF durante la realización de ejercicio en bicicleta estática en el tercer trimestre de embarazo. También conocer si esos aumentos se relacionan con la edad gestacional o la paridad de la gestante. Este estudio se ha desarrollado mediante una colaboración entre el Servicio de Ginecología y Obstetricia del Hospital Severo Ochoa de Leganés y la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Se obtuvo la aprobación del Comité de Investigación así como de la Comisión Ética. Fueron estudiadas 20 gestantes en el último trimestre, sin complicaciones ni contraindicaciones médicas para el ejercicio, cada mujer firmó un consentimiento informado. El protocolo de ejercicio consistió en una primera parte de reposo, una sesión de 20 minutos de trabajo moderado en bicicleta estática y el reposo final con retorno a los niveles normales de FCF. Los datos correspondientes a la FCF se obtuvieron por medio de un Monitor Fetal Electrónico Philips FM 20, y un pulsómetro Accurex Plus, Polar Electro OY, fue usado para el control de la frecuencia cardiaca materna. La historia clínica de cada gestante aportó datos relativos a características médicas y personales. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizaron mecanismos descriptivos, el índice de correlación de Pearson y la t de Student para comparación de medias. Nuestros resultados muestran aumentos de la FCF de 11-36 lat/min (media de 24 lat/min). Los días de gestación no presentaron una correlación positiva con el nivel de los incrementos (Pearson 0.06). Hubo mayores aumentos en gestantes secundigrávidas (media=152 ± 6.0 lat/min) que en primigrávidas (media=147 ± 4.6 lat/min). El ejercicio aeróbico y moderado materno desarrollado durante el tercer trimestre de embarazo incrementa la FCF sin efectos perjudiciales. Los aumentos no dependen de la edad gestacional de la madre. La paridad de la gestante tiene influencia en el nivel de los incrementos

Does exercise training during pregnancy affect gestational age? A randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Some controversy exists over the possibility that exercise during pregnancy might increase the risk of preterm delivery. Objective: This study aimed to determine the possible cause–effect relationship between regular exercise performed during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy by previously sedentary, healthy gravidae and gestational age at the moment of delivery. Methods: Caucasian (Spanish) women with singleton gestation were assigned to either a training (n=72) or a control (n=70) group. The supervised training programme focused mainly on very light resistance and toning exercises and included ,80 sessions (three times/ week, 35 min/session from weeks 12–13 to weeks 38– 39 of pregnancy). Results: No significant differences were found (p.0.05) between the groups in those maternal characteristics (age, smoking habits, number of hours standing or prior parity history) that could potentially influence gestational age. The mean gestational age did not differ (p=0.745) between the training (39 weeks,3 days (SD 1 day)) and the control group (39 weeks,4 days (SD 1 day)). Conclusions: Previously sedentary, healthy gravidae with singleton gestation can safely engage in moderate, supervised exercise programmes until the end of gestation as this would not affect gestational age

Does the ACE I/D polymorphism, alone or in combination with the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism, influence muscle power phenotypes in young, non-athletic adults?

We investigated the association of the angiotensin converting enzyme gene (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism, alone or in combination with the α-actinin-3 gene (ACTN3) R577X polymorphism, with jumping (vertical squat and counter-movement jump tests) and sprint ability (30 m dash) in non-athletic, healthy young adults [N = 281 (214 male), mean (SD) age 21 (2) years]. We did not observe any effect of the ACE I/D polymorphism on study phenotypes. We repeated the analyses separately in men and women and the results did not materially change. Likewise, the mean estimates of the study phenotypes were similar in subjects with the genotype combinations ACE II + ID and ACTN3 XX or ACE DD and ACTN3 RR + RX. We found no association between the ACE DD and ACTN3 RR + RX genotype combination and performance (≥90th of the sex-specific percentile). In summary, though the ACE I/D polymorphism is a strong candidate to modulate some exercise-related phenotypes or athletic performance status, this polymorphism, alone or in combination with the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism, does not seem to exert a major influence in the muscle ‘explosive’ power of young healthy adults, as assessed during multi-joint exercise tests

Fetal and maternal heart rate responses to exercise in pregnant women. A randomized Controlled Trial

Fetal and maternal heart rate responses to exercise in pregnant women. A randomized Controlled Tria

Comments of point: counterpoint: maximal oxygen uptake is/is not limited by a central nervous system governor

3.732 JCR (2009) Q1, 1/73 Sport sciences, 17/75 PhysiologyUE

Muscling in on cancer

Investigators recently described a study of mouse models of cancer, in which they found that contracting muscle fibers synthesize an anticancer myokine, interleukin-6.Sin financiación72.406 JCR (2016) Q1, 1/155 Medicine, General and Internal18.009 SJR (2016) Q1, 3/2886 Medicine (miscellaneous)No data IDR 2016UE

If exercise is medicine, what is the dosimetry?

Sin financiación0.274 SJR (2008) Q3, 100/180 Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, 239/402 Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, 71/97 Sports scienceUE