Pregnant Women Doing Resistance Exercise Training

NCT04780087 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 170066
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 53
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Despite the increase in numbers of women who engage in heavy, free-weight resistance exercise training (e.g. powerlifting, weightlifting, cross fit), the knowledge on how such exercise may affect fertility, pregnancy and birth outcomes is poor. Based on observational and associational studies of pregnant women in labour, recommendations are not to lift more than 11 kg in external load after mid-term, or to lift more than a total of 100 kg during a day. Ignoring such recommendations is associated to increased risk of miscarriage and preeclampsia, and of low birthweight and premature birth, respectively. As such, fit women who continue to exercise during pregnancy, are met with scepticism and warnings, resulting in shame and insecurity. Such attitudes may also result in physical inactivity during pregnancy, being on the contrary of what is recommended for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Elite athletes may additionally be deprived from an early return to sport if not being able to keep exercise intensity close to pre-pregnancy period. With poor knowledge on how fit, strong women respond to high external loads during pregnancy exercise, recommendations are to follow the general guidelines. The aim of this observational study, is to explore how regular resistance exercise training may affect fertility, and how high external loads in resistance exercise training during pregnancy in resistance trained women affect; a)their pregnancy and birth outcome, and b)health of the women and their children up to 12 months post-delivery.

Conditions

Pregnancy Related

Keywords

Pregnancy; Powerlifting; Weightlifting; Female athlete; Fertility; Delivery; Maternity leave; Resistance exercise training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (19)

• Delivery week

  The selfreported pregnancy week for delivery

  At delivery time

• Delivery method

  Participants report the method for delivery, choosing from natural delivery, delivery with assistance (e.g. birth forceps, vacuum delivery), caesarean section.

  At delivery time

• Pregnancy complications at week 23

  Number of participants who report any complications during pregnancy, choosing from a list of alternatives (yes/no) (preeclampsia, nausea, fatigue, low back pain, pelvic pain, constipation, mood swings, birth anxiety, gestational depression, anemia, hypertension, pregnancy diabetes, foetus growth retardation)

  During pregnancy up to week 23

• Pregnancy complications at week 30

  Number of participants who report any complications during pregnancy, choosing from a list of alternatives (yes/no) (preeclampsia, nausea, fatigue, low back pain, pelvic pain, constipation, mood swings, birth anxiety, gestational depression, anemia, hypertension, pregnancy diabetes, foetus growth retardation)

  Pregnancy week 23 to 30

• Pregnancy complications at week 40

  Number of participants who report any complications during pregnancy, choosing from a list of alternatives (yes/no) (preeclampsia, nausea, fatigue, low back pain, pelvic pain, constipation, mood swings, birth anxiety, gestational depression, anemia, hypertension, pregnancy diabetes, foetus growth retardation)

  Pregnancy week 30 to 40

• Childs weight at birth

  The weight of the child

  At delivery time

• Childs length at birth

  The length of the child

  At delivery time

• Apgar score 5 minutes

  The Apgar score 5 minutes post-delivery. This test checks a baby's heart rate, muscle tone, and other signs to see if extra medical care or emergency care is needed. The test is usually given twice: once at 1 minute after birth, and again at 5 minutes after birth. Scores below 4 indicates need for lifesaving measures, and higher scores indicates better health.

  At delivery time (5 minutes post-delivery)

• Miscarriage

  Number of miscarriages

  Previous and up to October 2023

• Urinary incontinence before pregnancy

  Number of participants reporting any challenges with urinary incontinence, and if it occurs; if it is only during increased abdominal pressure (coughing, laughing), or heavy lifting (choosing from a list of "always", only during increased abdominal pressure, only during lifting of heavy load)

  Any experience before pregnancy

• Urinary incontinence during pregnancy

  Number of participants reporting any urinary incontinence, and if it occurs; if it is only during increased abdominal pressure (coughing, laughing), or heavy lifting (choosing from a list of "always", only during increased abdominal pressure, only during lifting of heavy load)

  At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40

• Urinary incontinence after delivery

  Number of participants reporting any urinary incontinence, and if it occurs; if it is only during increased abdominal pressure (coughing, laughing), or heavy lifting (choosing from a list of "always", only during increased abdominal pressure, only during lifting of heavy load)

  Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months

• Anal insufficiency before pregnancy

  Number of participants reporting any challenges with fecal incontinence

  Any experience before pregnancy

• Anal insufficiency during pregnancy

  Number of participants reporting any challenges with fecal incontinence

  At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40

• Anal insufficiency after delivery

  Number of participants reporting any fecal incontinence and if it has worsened after giving birth

  Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months

• Injuries during pregnancy up to week 23

  Number of participants reporting on any exercise related injuries occuring during pregnancy, choosing from a list of anatomical locations

  During pregnancy up to week 23

• Injuries during pregnancy, up to week 30

  Number of participants reporting on any exercise related injuries occuring during pregnancy, choosing from a list of anatomical locations

  Pregnancy week 23 to 30

• Injuries during pregnancy, up to week 40

  Number of participants reporting on any exercise related injuries occuring during pregnancy, choosing from a list of anatomical locations (yes/no)

  Pregnancy week 30 to 40

• Analgesic during delivery

  Number of participants reporting use of analgesic during delivery, and what type of analgesic (e.g. nitrous oxide, epidural)

  At delivery time

Secondary Outcomes (18)

• Body weight at week 23

  Pregnancy week 23

• Body weight at week 30

  Pregnancy week 30

• Body weight at week 40

  Pregnancy week 40

• Body weight post-delivery, 1month

  Postpartum, 1 month after delivery

• Body weight post-delivery, 3 months

  Postpartum, 3 months after delivery

Other Outcomes (5)

• Use of supplements

  At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40, and at 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months postdelivery,

• Use of caffein (coffee, energydrinks, sodawater)

  At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40, and at 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months postdelivery,

• Intake of alcohol

  At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40, and at 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months postdelivery,

Study Arms (2)

Weight lifting women

Experienced resistance exercise trained and pregnant women

Reference women

Physically active pregnant women (not experienced with free weight lifting)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Based on sex, as this study evaluates the effects from resistance exercise training on pregnancy outcomes
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Women included in "group of interest" are pregnant women who are experienced in heavy, free-weigth resistance exercise training (i.e. powerlifter, weightlifter, cross fit) who aim to continue exercise training during pregnancy. Reference group are pregnant women with no experience in heavy, free-weight resistance exercise, but who are regurlarly physically active in any sport activity (at least 2 times per week), and who aim to continue to exercise during pregnancy.

You may qualify if:

• Being pregnant
• Group of interest: Being experienced with heavy, free-weight resistance exercise training, and aiming to continue exercise at comparable level during pregnancy
• Reference group: being regularly physical active before pregnancy (i.e. at least 2 work- outs per week), but not experienced in heavy, free-weight resistance exercise training

You may not qualify if:

• Any known metabolic condition or contraindication on doing physical activity during pregnancy (i.e. miscarriages, bleedings).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ostfold University College: lead

Study Sites (1)

Therese Fostervold Mathisen

Fredrikstad, 1671, Norway

Location

Study Officials

• Therese F Mathisen, PhD

  Østfold University College

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 10, 2020
• First Posted: March 3, 2021
• Study Start: November 1, 2020
• Primary Completion: June 25, 2023
• Study Completion: June 25, 2023
• Last Updated: April 2, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NO (1)