The Effect of Physical Activity During Pregnancy on Uterine and Fetal Parameters

NCT07147777 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: Antalya City/Anatolian Hosp
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 159
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study investigates the relationship between physical activity levels and fetal health in the third trimester of pregnancy. Using the PPAQ and daily step counts, researchers will measure physical activity and examine its effects on uterine blood flow, fetal heart rate, and birth weight. The study hypothesizes that both inactivity and excessive activity may negatively impact fetal health. By focusing on overall activity levels rather than acute effects, this research aims to provide new insights to inform recommendations for a healthy pregnancy.

Conditions

Pregnancy; Physical Activity

Keywords

pregnancy; physical activity; PPAQ; uterine blood flow; fetal heart rate; birth weight

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Resistance index measurement

  Systolic speed minus diastolic speed divided by systolic speed

  28-40 weeks of gestation

• Systolic-diastolic ratio measurement

  Systolic value divided by diastolic value on ultrasound

  28-40 weeks of gestation

• Fetal hearth rate measurement

  Fetal heart rate measured during sonographic obstetric evaluation of the fetus

  28-40 weeks of gestation

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Baby's birth weight measurement

  Day of delivery

Study Arms (3)

Inactive group

Pregnant women will be divided into three categories based on the distribution of their PPAQ scores: the bottom 33% (inactive group), the middle 33% (moderately active group), and the top 33% (overactive group).

Moderately active group

Pregnant women will be divided into three categories based on the distribution of their PPAQ scores: the bottom 33% (inactive group), the middle 33% (moderately active group), and the top 33% (overactive group).

Overactive group

Pregnant women will be divided into three categories based on the distribution of their PPAQ scores: the bottom 33% (inactive group), the middle 33% (moderately active group), and the top 33% (overactive group).

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Study participants are limited to pregnant women, which requires female biological sex.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients were selected by systematic random sampling method among pregnant women who applied to the obstetrics clinic and were in the last trimester of their pregnancy (28th week and following weeks).

You may qualify if:

• Singleton pregnancy
• ≥28 gestational weeks (confirmed by ultrasound)
• Willing and able to participate; provides written informed consent
• Owns a mobile phone capable of step-count data collection

You may not qualify if:

• Multiple pregnancy
• History of miscarriage in previous pregnancies
• Chronic systemic disease (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease)
• Detection of fetal anomalies
• Drug or substance abuse
• Current cigarette smoking
• Serious psychiatric illness

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Antalya Training and Research Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Antalya City Hospital, Antalya Anatolia Hospital

Antalya, 07080, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (6)

• Köken G, Yılmazer M. Gebelik ve Egzersiz. Turkiye Klinikleri J Gynecol Obst. 2007;17:385-92.

  BACKGROUND

• Cirak Y, Yilmaz GD, Demir YP, Dalkilinc M, Yaman S. Pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ): reliability and validity of Turkish version. J Phys Ther Sci. 2015 Dec;27(12):3703-9. doi: 10.1589/jpts.27.3703. Epub 2015 Dec 28.

  PMID: 26834336 BACKGROUND

• Park S, Marcotte R, Staudenmayer J, Sirard J, VanKim N, Pekow P, Strath S, Freedson P, Chasan-Taber L. Validity of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (PPAQ-SF). Am J Epidemiol. 2024 Oct 2:kwae382. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwae382. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 39359005 BACKGROUND

• Fernandez-Buhigas I, Martin Arias A, Vargas-Terrones M, Brik M, Rolle V, Barakat R, Munoz-Gonzalez MD, Refoyo I, Gil MM, Santacruz B. Fetal and maternal Doppler adaptation to maternal exercise during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2023 Dec;36(1):2183759. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2183759.

  PMID: 36889747 BACKGROUND

• Sussman D, Saini BS, Schneiderman JE, Spitzer R, Seed M, Lye SJ, Wells GD. Uterine artery and umbilical vein blood flow are unaffected by moderate habitual physical activity during pregnancy. Prenat Diagn. 2019 Oct;39(11):976-985. doi: 10.1002/pd.5517. Epub 2019 Jul 29.

  PMID: 31254464 BACKGROUND

• Nguyen NC, Evenson KR, Savitz DA, Chu H, Thorp JM, Daniels JL. Physical activity and maternal-fetal circulation measured by Doppler ultrasound. J Perinatol. 2013 Feb;33(2):87-93. doi: 10.1038/jp.2012.68. Epub 2012 Jun 7.

  PMID: 22678142 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity; Birth Weight

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Erhan Muluk, MD

  Antalya Anatolia Hospital

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 3 Months
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 22, 2025
• First Posted: August 29, 2025
• Study Start: August 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: November 30, 2025
• Study Completion: December 15, 2025
• Last Updated: January 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR
• Time Frame: 5 years
• Access Criteria: De-identified individual participant data will be made available to researchers who provide a methodologically sound and ethically approved research proposal. Data will be shared via a secure, designated platform, and a data use agreement will be required to ensure compliance with privacy and ethical standards.

Locations

TU (1)