Exercise during pregnancy improves maternal health perception: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: We have studied the effect of moderate physical activity that is performed by healthy women during their entire pregnancy on their perception of health status. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty sedentary women were assigned randomly to either an exercise group (n = 40) or a control group (n = 40). Maternal perception of health status and several pregnancy outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Significant differences (P = .03) were found between study groups in the percentage of women who perceived their health status as "very good"; the values that corresponded to the exercise group (n = 18; 54.5%) were better than those of the control group (n = 9; 27.3%). In addition, the women of the exercise group gained less weight (11,885 +/- 3146 g) than those of the control group (13,903 +/- 2113; P = .03). CONCLUSION: A moderate physical activity program that is performed over the first, second, and third trimester of pregnancy improves the maternal perception of health status.