article
The effect of aerobic exercise on oxygen consumption in healthy first-pregnancy females: A randomized clinical trial
Autor
Ramírez-Vélez, Robinson
Aguilar,Ana Cecilia
Mosquera,Mildrey
Echeverry, Isabella
Ortega, José Guillermo
Saldarriaga gil, Wilmer
Institución
Resumen
Objective: evaluating the effect of aerobic exercise on oxygen consumption by healthy first-pregnancy females. Materials and methods: a randomized clinical trial was carried out on 64 healthy first-pregnancy females (16 to 20 weeks pregnant). Intervention group: aerobic exercise involving 50% to 65% maximum heart rate for 45 min, 3 times a week over a 16-week period. Control group: habitual physical activity. Measurements used: maximum oxygen consumption capacity test (VO2max) involving 6-minute walking test and anthropometric weight, height and relative weight gain indicators. Results: no differences were found in initial measurements between groups regarding any of the variables. By the end of the 16-week intervention, participants engaging in regular exercise presented greater physical capacity as measured by the distance covered in the walking (p=0.043) and VO2max (p=0.023) tests. No significant differences were found between groups regarding the anthropometric variables. Conclusion: engaging in regular controlled aerobic exercise improved physical capacity in pregnant females. Interventions like this could thus represent an early effective alternative for strengthening the prevention of physical inactivity pathologies during pregnancy.