The Acute Effect of Physical Exercise in Pregnancy
NCT Number: NCT06565182
Status: COMPLETED
Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
Phases: NA
Conditions: Pregnancy Related
Interventions: OTHER: Exercise
Sponsor: University Hospital, Antwerp
Sex: FEMALE
Age: ADULT, OLDER_ADULT
Enrollment: 18
Study Design: Allocation: RANDOMIZED|Intervention Model: CROSSOVER|Masking: SINGLE (OUTCOMES_ASSESSOR)|Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
Start Date: 2021-11-15
Completion Date: 2022-05-26
Locations: Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Antwerp, 2650, Belgium

Summary:
The goal of this crossover clinical trial is to investigate the acute physiological effect of exercise on the uterine and fetal blood flow in pregnancy. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* What is the acute physiological effect of exercise on the uterine and fetal blood flow in pregnancy?
* What is the acute physiological effect of continuous aerobic exercise versus resistance exercise on the uterine and fetal blood flow in pregnancy?
* What is the effect of physical activity levels on the uterine and fetal blood flow in pregnancy?

Researchers will compare the continuous aerobic exercise to the resistance exercise with a 3-6-week interval to examine the acute physiological effect on the uterine and fetal blood flow.

Participants will:

* Fill in a physical activity level questionnaire at baseline.
* Complete either continuous aerobic exercise or resistance exercise and take blood flow measurements.
* Complete the remaining type of exercise after a 3-6-week interval and take blood flow measurements.

Primary Outcome Measures: Blood flow using doppler ultrasound measurements, Measurements of the pulsatility index of the left and right uterine artery, umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery were taken using Doppler ultrasound. The pulsatility indexes were determined by taking the average of three waveforms from the Doppler velocity measurements., The measurements were taken before and after each exercise bout. Participants rested for at least 15 minutes before their baseline measurement was evaluated. Reassessment was done within 15 minutes after the intervention.
Secondary Outcome Measures: Physical activity levels, Physical fitness levels were assessed using the Dutch version of the IPAQ-SF questionnaire. Categorical scores are defined as low, moderate and high physical activity levels. The category labeled 'high' is classified when vigorous-intensity activity on at least 3 days achieves a minimum of at least 1500 MET-minutes/week or 7 or more days of any combination of walking, moderate-intensity or vigorous-intensity activities achieve a minimum of at least 3000 MET-minutes/week on total physical activity. 'Moderate' is classified if vigorous-intensity activity is performed for at least 20 minutes per day on 3 or more days; or moderate-intensity activity and/or walking is performed at least 30 minutes per day for 5 or more days; or 5 or more days of any combination of walking, moderate intensity or vigorous-intensity activities achieve a total physical activity of at least 600 MET minutes/week. All who do not meet the criteria for 'moderate' or 'high' are assigned to the category 'low'., Physical activity levels were assessed at baseline.