key: cord-0878097-5fucr64l
authors: Barakat, Ruben; Silva-Jose, Cristina; Mottola, Michelle F.
title: Exercise Throughout Pregnancy in a Hospital Setting: Looking Beyond COVID-19
date: 2022-01-31
journal: Mayo Clin Proc
DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2022.01.024
sha: b04a11fa16b254835eaa03f386ef15c68f536989
doc_id: 878097
cord_uid: 5fucr64l

nan

To the Editor: Despite the known benefits of physical exercise during pregnancy, 1 the worldwide prevalence is currently very low. 2 This may be due to several interrelated factors that result in compliance with the universal recommendation of 150 minutes/week of physical activity among the pregnant population. 3 Three factors key to solving this troublesome issue are:

a) The transfer of knowledge about the benefits of exercise for mothers, foetuses and newborns is urgent.

b) The difficulty of access to supervised physical activity throughout pregnancy is problematic. To overcome this barrier, one option is to provide an exercise program within the hospital environment where individuals access their obstetric follow-up.

c) The collaboration between the hospital (obstetric health care) and university (experts in maternal exercise) is important in order to work as a cohesive team to provide optimal patient-centred care, early in pregnancy regarding physical activity and to provide a choice for volunteering for scientific research.

The purpose of this brief report is to outline the importance of how a university and hospital can work together, especially in the COVID-19 climate. Establishing early contact between healthy pregnant individuals and resources to promote a physically active lifestyle is key to initiating and maintaining healthy habits.

During this early contact, obstetric contraindications should be immediately ruled out by the professional, and healthy pregnant individuals must have access to an exercise J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f program or at least the information to remain active, so this approach would generate success. Davies and Artal suggested that exercise throughout pregnancy should be considered a therapy to improve quality of life. 4

Methodologically, the best care requires a multidisciplinary team within the hospital by working with university experts in prenatal exercise, where coordination will ensure the benefits of physical activity. However, the COVID-19 pandemic complicated exercise classes within the hospital, largely due to obstetric protocols. 5 These programs are currently offered virtually and allows participants to track their activity levels daily providing motivation for them to remain active. 

Influence of land or water exercise in pregnancy on outcomes: a cross-sectional study

Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy

World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour