Sheila A Smith1, Yvonne Michel. 1. College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. smitsa@musc.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the impact of an aquatic exercise program on perception of body image, participation in health-promoting behaviors, barriers to health-promoting participation, level of physical discomfort, and mobility. DESIGN: A two-group, quasi-experimental, pretest/posttest design. SAMPLE AND SETTING: A convenience sample of 40 nonexercising pregnant women who were at least 19 weeks gestation were recruited. Sixty percent of the sample was African American. Participants self-selected assignment to either the exercise or nonexercise group. Both groups completed self-report measures and underwent a mobility assessment. The exercise group participated in a 60-minute, 6-week aquatic exercise program three sessions per week. The control group was instructed to continue their normal activities of daily living. RESULTS:Women who had participated in theaquatic exercise program reported significantly less physical discomfort, improved mobility, and improved body image and health-promoting behaviors as compared to control subjects. CONCLUSIONS:Aquatic exercise during pregnancy may enhance physical functioning, decreasing maternal discomfort, improving maternal body image, and improving health-promoting behaviors.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the impact of an aquatic exercise program on perception of body image, participation in health-promoting behaviors, barriers to health-promoting participation, level of physical discomfort, and mobility. DESIGN: A two-group, quasi-experimental, pretest/posttest design. SAMPLE AND SETTING: A convenience sample of 40 nonexercising pregnant women who were at least 19 weeks gestation were recruited. Sixty percent of the sample was African American. Participants self-selected assignment to either the exercise or nonexercise group. Both groups completed self-report measures and underwent a mobility assessment. The exercise group participated in a 60-minute, 6-week aquatic exercise program three sessions per week. The control group was instructed to continue their normal activities of daily living. RESULTS:Women who had participated in the aquatic exercise program reported significantly less physical discomfort, improved mobility, and improved body image and health-promoting behaviors as compared to control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Aquatic exercise during pregnancy may enhance physical functioning, decreasing maternal discomfort, improving maternal body image, and improving health-promoting behaviors.
Authors: Sinead Currie; Marlene Sinclair; Dianne S Liddle; Alan Nevill; Marie H Murphy Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-12-18 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: José Roberto da Silva; Paulo Sérgio Borges; Karine F Agra; Isabelle Albuquerque Pontes; João Guilherme Bezerra Alves Journal: Trials Date: 2013-11-19 Impact factor: 2.279