Myths and Misconceptions: what do we really know about physical activity/exercise during pregnancy?
Creators: name: Brown, Wendy
name: Haakstad, Lene
name: Hayman, Mel
name: DiPietro, Loretta
name: Mielke, Gregore
name: Kahlmeier, Sonja
Publisher: name: The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada
Year: 2022

description: Purpose: A key objective of this conference is to advance our knowledge of the benefits of physical activity (PA) for optimal health and well-being across the lifespan. As levels of PA typically decline in women during young adulthood, and a key correlate of this decline is pregnancy. This symposium will focus on the evidence, myths and misconceptions about PA/exercise during pregnancy. Description: Researchers worldwide agree that PA/exercise during pregnancy has benefits for both the mother and the developing foetus. However, critical evaluation of the evidence on PA/exercise during pregnancy and health outcomes, conducted for the development of new guidelines for PA/exercise during pregnancy in Australia, Canada, the USA and several European countries, suggests a lack of consensus on the strength of the evidence relating to some health outcomes. In a series of short (8 minute) presentations, a panel of researchers will describe the health outcomes with the strongest evidence of benefit, types of activity (strength training and vigorous activity) for which we are less certain of the health benefits, limitations that are common in research on PA/exercise during pregnancy, the challenges of conducting research with pregnant women, and what all this means for translation into public health practice. Chair: Professor Wendy Brown, University of Queensland, Australia. Title: Brief overview of the challenges of working in this area. Presenter 1: A/Professor Lene Haakstad, Norwegian School of Sports Science, Oslo, Norway. Title: PA/exercise during pregnancy; where is the strongest evidence of benefits? Presenter 2: Dr. Mel Hayman, Central Queensland University, Australia. Title: Strength training during pregnancy: what do we know? Presenter 3: Professor Loretta di Pietro, The George Washington University, Washington, DC. Title: Vigorous-intensity PA/exercise (including high intensity training) during pregnancy: what do we know? Presenter 4: Dr. Gregore Mielke, Research Fellow, University of Queensland. Title: Common methodological limitations in research on PA/exercise during pregnancy. Presenter 5: Dr. Sonja Kahlmeier, Swiss Distance University of Applied Science, Switzerland. Title: Public health implications: what advice do different countries provide on PA/exercise during pregnancy? Interactive discussion: the presenters will form a “Q and A” style panel to answer questions from delegates (posted on-line) and engage in debate about the most contentious issues in this field, moderated by the Chair. Conclusions: This symposium will advance delegates’ knowledge of the most recent evidence in this field and dispel some of the myths and misconceptions that are common in the area of PA/exercise and pregnancy. This will add to our understanding of the benefits of PA for promoting health and well-being of both the mother and foetus during this important life-stage. If more women could be encouraged to be active during and following pregnancy, they may be more likely to continue with life-long activity, which has countless health, social and economic benefits for themselves, their children and health systems.
description: The Health &amp; Fitness Journal of Canada, Vol. 14 No. 3 (2021): Proceedings from the 8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress