Pregnancy Health: Exercise Programs to Prevent Gestational Hypertension
CDC
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Programs engage women in regular exercise from before their 16th week of pregnancy through birth.
Exercise programs must include one or both of the following:
-Supervised exercise classes that meet at least three times each week and include 30-60 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise
-Regular moderate-intensity walking sessions during which women (alone or in a group) walk 90-150 minutes per week or 11,000 steps per day, as monitored by a pedometer
Interventions may also include the following:
-Supervised resistance training
-Additional education or encouragement on physical activity, nutrition, and weight management
Interventions may be delivered in health system facilities, or in community-based or home settings.
Exercise programs must include one or both of the following:
-Supervised exercise classes that meet at least three times each week and include 30-60 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise
-Regular moderate-intensity walking sessions during which women (alone or in a group) walk 90-150 minutes per week or 11,000 steps per day, as monitored by a pedometer
Interventions may also include the following:
-Supervised resistance training
-Additional education or encouragement on physical activity, nutrition, and weight management
Interventions may be delivered in health system facilities, or in community-based or home settings.
Impact
The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends exercise programs for pregnant women to reduce the development of gestational hypertension.
Results / Accomplishments
The systematic review and meta-analysis included 17 randomized controlled trials.
-Compared to interventions without an exercise program or to usual care, exercise programs reduced the development of high blood pressure during pregnancy by 46% (17 studies)
Additional analyses of a subset of 16 studies showed the following:
-The cesarean delivery rate for program participants was 16% lower than the rate for comparison groups (14 studies).
-The rate of preeclampsia was 21% lower among program participants when compared with control groups, though the difference was not statistically significant (7 studies).
-Compared to interventions without an exercise program or to usual care, exercise programs reduced the development of high blood pressure during pregnancy by 46% (17 studies)
Additional analyses of a subset of 16 studies showed the following:
-The cesarean delivery rate for program participants was 16% lower than the rate for comparison groups (14 studies).
-The rate of preeclampsia was 21% lower among program participants when compared with control groups, though the difference was not statistically significant (7 studies).
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS V25-5
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS V25-5
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Topics
Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health
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