Should You Exercise While Pregnant?

29 Jun, 2023 | Dr. Malik | No Comments

Should You Exercise While Pregnant?

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, encourage women who are experiencing healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies to exercise. Exercise has been shown to reduce the severity of low back pain, pelvic girdle pain, and lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy.

 

Recommendations:

–  All women without contraindications (see below) should be encouraged to be physically active throughout pregnancy. Combining aerobic and resistance training during pregnancy has been shown to be more effective at improving health outcomes than aerobic exercise alone.

– Pregnant women should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week to achieve meaningful health benefits and reductions in pregnancy complications.

– Physical activity should be accumulated over a minimum of 3 days per week; however daily activity is encouraged.

– Pregnant women should incorporate a variety of aerobic exercise and resistance training activities to achieve greater benefits. The addition of yoga and/or gentle stretching may also be beneficial.

Contraindications:

Before commencing any exercise program, it is important to consult with your healthcare provider. If you have any of the following conditions, exercise may not be recommended:

– Ruptured membranes

– Premature labour

– Unexplained persistent vaginal bleeding

– Placenta previa after 28 weeks’ gestation

– Pre-eclampsia

– Incompetent cervix

– Intrauterine growth restriction

– High-order multiple pregnancy (eg. triplets)

– Uncontrolled type I diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension or uncontrolled thyroid disease

– Other serious cardiovascular, respiratory or systemic disorder

– Recurrent pregnancy loss

– History of spontaneous preterm birth

– Gestational hypertension

– Symptomatic anaemia

– Malnutrition

– Eating disorder

– Twin pregnancy after the 28th week

– Mild/moderate cardiovascular or respiratory disease

– Other significant medical conditions

How can your Chiropractor help?

Chiropractors can promote healthy lifestyle behaviours by providing education and prescribing physical activity programs through a personalized approach to exercise prescription by considering a patient’s environmental context, available resources, personalized education, and providing reassurance of a patient’s exercise capability. Programs may include strength training exercises, aerobic conditioning, stretching, and relaxation techniques, and clinicians can help determine the appropriate frequency, intensity, and timing of physical activities.

Chiropractors play a crucial role in promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and providing personalized exercise prescriptions to their patients. By taking into account a patient’s individual context, available resources, and providing education, chiropractors can design physical activity programs that cater to their patients’ needs. These programs may include a combination of strength training exercises, aerobic conditioning, stretching, and relaxation techniques. Additionally, chiropractors can guide patients on the appropriate frequency, intensity, and timing of physical activities, ensuring a safe and effective approach.

For pregnant women, it is important to prioritize physical activity to maintain overall health and reduce pregnancy complications. Chiropractors can provide recommendations to support active pregnancies. It is generally advised that pregnant women accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week to achieve meaningful health benefits. This physical activity can be spread out over a minimum of three days per week, although daily activity is encouraged. It is beneficial to incorporate a variety of aerobic exercises, resistance training, and even activities like yoga and gentle stretching. However, before beginning any exercise program, pregnant women should consult with their healthcare provider to ensure it is safe for them, particularly if they have any of the contraindications listed above.

Chiropractors have a valuable role in promoting healthy lifestyles and providing personalized exercise prescriptions to their patients. For pregnant women, engaging in appropriate physical activity during pregnancy can have numerous benefits. By working closely with their healthcare providers and chiropractors, women can maintain their overall health and well-being throughout pregnancy while ensuring the safety of both themselves and their baby.

To learn more about how Chiropractors can help you, call our clinic today at 905-593-1605 for a free consultation or click the link below to book online today!

Positive SSL