J F Clapp1, K H Rizk. 1. Department of Reproductive Biology, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109-1998.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to test the hypothesis that regular recreational exercise increases the rate of growth in placental volume in the midtrimester of human pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Serial measurements of placental volume were obtained between the fourteenth and twenty-sixth gestational week in 18 subjects who exercised regularly throughout the midtrimester and in 16 matched controls with an ultrasonographic system equipped with a fixed-base, articulated-arm, 3.5 MHz B-mode transducer. RESULTS: Placental volumes were significantly greater in the women who maintained a regular exercise regimen throughout the midtrimester. At 16 weeks (mean +/- SD) volumes were 141 +/- 34 cm3 and 106 +/- 18 cm3 in the two groups. This difference increased at 20 weeks (265 +/- 67 cm3 vs 186 +/- 46 cm3) and again at 24 (410 +/- 87 cm3 vs 270 +/- 58 cm3) weeks' gestation because of a significant between-group difference in the rate of growth in placental volume over this time interval (34 +/- 8 cm3/wk vs 21 +/- cm3/wk). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the hypothesis is correct and speculate that the change in growth rate represents an adaptive response to the intermittent stimulus of a reduction in regional blood flow.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to test the hypothesis that regular recreational exercise increases the rate of growth in placental volume in the midtrimester of human pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Serial measurements of placental volume were obtained between the fourteenth and twenty-sixth gestational week in 18 subjects who exercised regularly throughout the midtrimester and in 16 matched controls with an ultrasonographic system equipped with a fixed-base, articulated-arm, 3.5 MHz B-mode transducer. RESULTS: Placental volumes were significantly greater in the women who maintained a regular exercise regimen throughout the midtrimester. At 16 weeks (mean +/- SD) volumes were 141 +/- 34 cm3 and 106 +/- 18 cm3 in the two groups. This difference increased at 20 weeks (265 +/- 67 cm3 vs 186 +/- 46 cm3) and again at 24 (410 +/- 87 cm3 vs 270 +/- 58 cm3) weeks' gestation because of a significant between-group difference in the rate of growth in placental volume over this time interval (34 +/- 8 cm3/wk vs 21 +/- cm3/wk). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the hypothesis is correct and speculate that the change in growth rate represents an adaptive response to the intermittent stimulus of a reduction in regional blood flow.
Authors: Miao Cai; Bin Zhang; Rong Yang; Tongzhang Zheng; Guanghui Dong; Hualiang Lin; Steven E Rigdon; Hong Xian; Leslie Hinyard; Pamela K Xaverius; Echu Liu; Thomas E Burroughs; Daire R Jansson; Morgan H LeBaige; Shaoping Yang; Zhengmin Qian Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2021-03-12 Impact factor: 3.007