Today, no one disputes that regular physical activity (PA) is necessary for human health and proper functioning, both biologically and psychosocially. PA during pregnancy is undoubtedly unique because it determines the health of two generations: mothers and their offspring. What happens in the child's body through the maternal-foetal connection before birth may significantly determine its entire ontogeny. However, too many women in various countries are not sufficiently active during pregnancy. That is why in our session, combining the social science and natural science perspective, we would like to present evidence-based initiatives for the global promotion of physical activity during pregnancy. We will present, among others: results of multidisciplinary research explaining the impact of various exercise programmes on the health of mother and child. Using the example of “The Active Pregnancy” project from Portugal and “The NEPPE” project form Poland, we will show how to translate scientific knowledge into practical recommendations for exercise professionals. We will also discuss how we used remote education to reach 41 countries. The ACSM “Special Interest Group for Pregnancy and Postpartum” from USA will be an example of how to attract various stakeholders to strengthen the potential of undertaken activities. The target audience of this session are: researchers in the field of health-promoting physical activity, exercise professionals and vocational training providers.
ECSS Paris 2023: IS-MH03
The level of physical activity during pregnancy is a multigenerational public health issue. Updated scientific studies have been supporting the positive multifactorial effects of an active lifestyle with regard to the prevention and treatment of pregnancy-related complications and determined health problems, such as gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, obesity, low back pain, urinary incontinence, anxiety or depression, as well as regarding its effectiveness in maintaining fitness and functionality, and in improving postpartum recovery. Practice and clinical guidelines have become an increasingly popular tool for synthesis of evidence-based information to assist practitioners and patients/participants decisions related to start or continue physical activity. These guidelines should be widely used to enhance educational effectiveness and improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women. Several official evidence-based recommendations on physical activity during perinatal period have been issued and updated over the last five years. Yet, these documents lack information on practice regarding the best strategies to promote, implement and ensure adherence to tailored exercise programmes for pregnant and postpartum women. On the other hand, the prevalence of physical inactivity is still high in this population. Certainly, this is largely influenced by the same factors that are responsible for the general trend of inactivity in todays society. However, beliefs passed down from generation to generation still play an important role here, often stronger than arguments supported by scientific knowledge. Further, most women do not receive proper guidance on how to exercise during pregnancy or after childbirth. The aim of this lecture is to present the design and outcomes of an education and research-based initiative: The Active Pregnancy Project. This project focuses on improving women’s health and fitness during pregnancy and after childbirth. The four aims of the project are: 1) To implement educational tools for women, exercise and health professionals, based on updated guidelines and evidence on the positive impact of exercise during pregnancy and in postpartum; 2) To build and implement friendly-use and effective virtual tools promoting exercise during pregnancy and in postpartum; 3) To develop and assess the impact of multicomponent exercise programmes delivered in-person and online to improve maternal physical activity, fitness, and health parameters; 4) To assess the impact of exercise and healthy lifestyle on the prevention of common pregnancy and postpartum complaints and diseases. The target audience of this lecture are: researchers interested in analysing the impact of physical activity on the course of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period, as well as exercise and health professionals and vocational training providers associated with the promotion of physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum.
Read CV Rita Santos-RochaECSS Paris 2023: IS-MH03
With the increasing rates of obesity in women of child-bearing age, it is critical to develop strategies to prevent the intergenerational cycle of obesity. Data suggests that maternal exercise positively influences pregnancy outcomes and metabolic health in offspring. However, much is not known about exercise metrics (frequency, intensity, time, type, volume, FITT-V) on placental and thus birth and infant outcomes. To elucidate the biological mechanisms behind positive adaptations to maternal exercise, we assessed FITT-V outcomes on placental, birth, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from umbilical cords at birth, as well as infant health outcomes; women did aerobic, strength, combination (aerobic + strength), or no exercise for 24+ weeks of pregnancy. We hypothesized that increased maternal exercise FITT-V would be associated with improved placenta and birth outcomes, as well as improved infant cellular metabolism and body composition; we also hypothesized that infant fat at the cellular and whole-body level will be less in infants of exercisers compared to non-exercisers. We demonstrated that any maternal exercise mode improves placental health and birth outcomes; importantly, increased FITT-V is associated with improved placenta and birth measures. Further, cell metabolism is improved in infants from exercisers relative to cells of non-exercisers. Maternal exercise also decreased cellular fat and whole-body fat in infants of exercisers compared to infants of non-exercisers. Our data suggests that any maternal exercise mode programs improvements in infants at the cellular and whole-body level. Importantly, FITT-V is positively associated with improved placenta, birth, and infant health. These changes in placenta and offspring increase overall health and thus could decrease the propensity to develop obesity and associated metabolic conditions later in life. This lecture will discuss the outcomes of various experimental randomized controlled trials in pregnancy. Additionally, the details of how measurements can be collected during pregnancy, at birth, and follow-up with mothers and infants will be described. Furthermore, the presenter will also discuss international initiatives related to exercise during pregnancy. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) “Special Interest Group for Pregnancy and Postpartum” from USA will be an example of how to attract various stakeholders to strengthen the potential of undertaken activities. There are many national and international organizations that share similar guidelines for exercise in pregnancy. Additionally, there are many projects related to this topic. Therefore, it is important to have opportunities to discuss and share ideas in order to work synergistically and collaboratively to advance the field of exercise and pregnancy in order to improve maternal and child health. The target audience of this lecture are researchers in the field of physical activity in pregnancy and exercise professionals.
Read CV Linda MayECSS Paris 2023: IS-MH03
Exercise professionals should be able to plan and implement exercise programmes to facilitate the greatest health benefits for mothers and their children. Unfortunately, studies have shown that most of them present a low level of knowledge about pre- and postnatal physical activity. The lack of appropriate competences will certainly make it difficult to perform their professional tasks. In turn, unavailability of targeted exercise programmes may contribute to physical inactivity during pregnancy and after childbirth. Therefore, in the “The New Era of Pre- and Postnatal Exercise” (NEPPE) project we developed an evidence-based educational programme for exercise professionals. The aim of this lecture is to present how the NEPPE training was organized and implemented. To strengthen the international context of the project, we used the lifelong learning standards ‘Exercise in Pregnancy and Postpartum’, developed by the European sector organisation EuropeActive (EA). We also used the latest recommendations, scientific and practical achievements in the field of pregnancy and postpartum physical activity. Additionally, a key element was the inclusion of the basic assumptions of the EA ‘Online provision of fitness services’ qualification. The use of online tools allowed us to increase the area of our educational activities and reach 41 countries from 4 continents (Europe, Asia, Africa and the North America), including the least developed countries. An important result of the NEPPE training is that over 90% of graduates stated that the online mode of training was effective. In the initial theoretical test, they obtained an average of 72% ± 16, in the post-test 86% ± 8 correct answers. The results in the post test were statistically significantly better (p < 0.000). In the final assessment, the participants demonstrated also good level of practical skills in planning and implementing exercises for pregnant and postpartum clients. They obtained an average of 83% of the maximum score in preparing exercise programme, and 94% of the maximum score in conducting exercise sessions. We will present recommendations regarding online educational solutions and tools, starting from the recruitment process, through the implementation of classes, verification of learning outcomes, to programme evaluation. They are intended to provide a transparent process of acquiring professional competences, ending with obtaining a certificate that is reliable for various stakeholders. We will also discuss cultural issues that may determine the implementation of exercise programmes for pregnant and postpartum clients in different countries. A completely new, previously untouched topic will be the inclusion of people with disabilities in the area of physical activity in the perinatal period. The target audience of this session are educational institutions, both universities and vocational training providers, exercise professionals and scientists in the field of educational research.
Read CV Anna SzumilewiczECSS Paris 2023: IS-MH03