Impact of postpartum exercise on pelvic floor disorders and diastasis recti abdominis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To examine the effect of exercise during the first year postpartum on pelvic floor disorders and diastasis recti abdominis.

Design: Systematic review with random effects meta-analysis.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscuss, Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews (Ovid), Scopus, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.

Maternal and fetal responses to acute high-intensity resistance exercise during pregnancy.

Objective: To examine maternal and fetal cardiovascular responses to high-intensity resistance exercise in pregnancy.

Methods: 10 healthy pregnant (26.4±3.

Impact of postpartum physical activity on maternal depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To examine the influence of postpartum exercise on maternal depression and anxiety.

Design: Systematic review with random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Data Sources: Online databases up to 12 January 2024, reference lists, recommended studies and hand searches.

Vascular Health in Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects 1% of live births and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and reduced life expectancy. Previous studies have suggested CHD is associated with impaired vascular health, but this has not been established. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effect of CHD on vascular health.

Running for two (or three!): the journey of an ultramarathoner across two pregnancies.

There is a lack of evidence regarding the safety of long-duration and vigorous-intensity physical activity during pregnancy, such as that required during an ultramarathon. This case study is the first to examine the training, performance, health, and delivery outcomes for an ultramarathoner across two successive pregnancies (one twin and one singleton) that were delivered when the athlete was 41 and 43 yr, respectively. During her twin pregnancy, she ran an average of 91.

Impact of postpartum physical activity on cardiometabolic health, breastfeeding, injury and infant growth and development: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To examine the relationship between postpartum physical activity and maternal postnatal cardiometabolic health, breastfeeding, injury, and infant growth and development.

Design: Systematic review with random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Data Sources: Eight online databases were searched up until 12 January 2024.

Barriers and enablers encountered by elite athletes during preconception and pregnancy: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Objective: To synthesise the existing literature relating to barriers and enablers encountered by elite athletes during preconception and pregnancy for the purpose of identifying key recommendations and actionable steps to inform the development of pregnancy guidelines to support preconception and pregnancy in national sporting organisations.

Design: Mixed-methods systematic review with thematic analysis.

Data Sources: Four databases (Medline, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO and CINAHL) were systematically searched to identify relevant studies, along with reference lists of included studies until 3 April 2023.

Development of sport policy and practice recommendations for pregnant, postpartum and parenting Canadian high-performance athletes.

Our objective is to describe the development of evidence-based policy and practice recommendations for pregnant, postpartum and parenting Canadian high-performance athletes. A community-based participatory research approach was employed as the study design, and data were generated via a rapid review of existing sport policy for pregnant and postpartum athletes, followed by an extensive consultation and engagement process with key sport stakeholders via survey and one-on-one and group interviews. 102 sport stakeholders participated via the survey (n=56), individual and group interviews (n=33), and follow-up interviews (n=13).

Guidelines for assessing maternal cardiovascular physiology during pregnancy and postpartum.

Maternal mortality rates are at an all-time high across the world and are set to increase in subsequent years. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death during pregnancy and postpartum, especially in the United States. Therefore, understanding the physiological changes in the cardiovascular system during normal pregnancy is necessary to understand disease-related pathology.

The impact of exercise training on muscle sympathetic nerve activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effects of exercise training on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in humans. Studies included exercise interventions [randomized controlled trials (RCTs), nonrandomized controlled trials (non-RCTs), or pre-to-post intervention] that reported on adults (≥18 yr) where MSNA was directly assessed using microneurography, and relevant outcomes were assessed [MSNA (total activity, burst frequency, burst incidence, amplitude), heart rate, blood pressure (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or mean blood pressure), and aerobic capacity (maximal or peak oxygen consumption)]. Forty intervention studies ( = 1,253 individuals) were included.

The effect of hyperoxia on muscle sympathetic nerve activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effect of hyperoxia on muscle sympathetic nerve activity in healthy individuals and those with cardio-metabolic diseases.

Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases was performed until August 2022. All study designs (except reviews) were included: population (humans; apparently healthy or with at least one chronic disease); exposures (muscle sympathetic nerve activity during hyperoxia or hyperbaria); comparators (hyperoxia or hyperbaria vs.

"Is It Realistic?": A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Elite Women Athletes Considering Parenthood.

Background And Objective: As the visibility and acceptance of athlete-mothers increase, so does the number of women athletes considering parenthood. Yet, many athletes struggle with the decision to become a parent while competing at the elite level due to the significant changes and uncertainties that have been reported by pregnant and parenting athletes. The experiences of women athletes considering parenthood are under-represented in the vast sport literature but are necessary for developing evidenced-based policies and practices that can support women's equitable participation in high-performance sport contexts.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy (kwestionariusz "Badź Aktywna w Ciąży") to support physical activity among pregnant women in Poland.

Introduction: Physical activity during pregnancy is established to derive clinically meaningful improvements in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum health outcomes. Evidence-based pre-screening tools have been developed to support the implementation of physical activity programmes, and enhance communication between health care providers, exercise professionals and pregnant women. The Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy (GAQ-P) and the Health Care Provider Consultation Form for Prenatal Physical Activity (HCPCF) empower pregnant women to identify whether they require additional counselling from their obstetric health care provider in terms of physical activity.

Clinical and exercise professional opinion on designing a postpartum return-to-running training programme: an international Delphi study and consensus statement.

Returning to running postpartum presents challenges such as musculoskeletal pain and pelvic floor dysfunction for some females, but there is little guidance on developing and progressing postpartum training programmes. This study aims to establish expert consensus recommendations on designing and modifying a postpartum return-to-running training programme, highlight costs and access to qualified professionals as potential barriers and discuss clinical, research and sports policy implications.A three-round Delphi survey of clinical and exercise professionals working with postpartum runners was conducted.

Clinical and exercise professional opinion of return-to-running readiness after childbirth: an international Delphi study and consensus statement.

Female athletes have identified a lack of guidance as a barrier to successfully returning to running postpartum, and existing guidelines are vague. Our aim was to define the current practice of determining postpartum run-readiness through a consensus survey of international clinicians and exercise professionals in postpartum exercise to assist clinicians and inform sport policy changes.A three-round Delphi approach was used to gain international consensus from clinicians and exercise professionals on run-readiness postpartum.

Filling the evidence void: exploration of coach and healthcare provider experiences working with pregnant and postpartum elite athletes - a qualitative study.

Objective: Recent research grounded in the experiences of elite female athletes has shed light on the complex challenges of navigating sport environments that do not support or value pregnant or postpartum athletes. The purpose of this study was to explore the unique experiences of coaches and healthcare providers working with pregnant and postpartum elite athletes, and to identify actionable steps for research, policy and culture change to support them.

Methods: Sixteen participants (five coaches, three physicians and eight physiotherapists), who have worked with pregnant and/or postpartum elite athletes within the last 5 years, participated in this qualitative study.

The effect of hypoxemia on muscle sympathetic nerve activity and cardiovascular function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of acute poikilocapnic, high-altitude, and acute isocapnia hypoxemia on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and cardiovascular function. A comprehensive search across electronic databases was performed until June 2021. All observational designs were included: population (healthy individuals); exposures (MSNA during hypoxemia); comparators (hypoxemia severity and duration); outcomes (MSNA; heart rate, HR; and mean arterial pressure, MAP).

Increased stiffness of omental arteries from late pregnant women at advanced maternal age.

Advanced maternal age (≥35 years) is a risk factor for poor pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy requires extensive maternal vascular adaptations, and with age, our blood vessels become stiffer and change in structure (collagen and elastin). However, the effect of advanced maternal age on the structure of human resistance arteries during pregnancy is unknown.

Maternal and Fetal Cardiovascular Responses to Acute High-Intensity Interval and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training Exercise During Pregnancy: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Objective: We aimed to compare maternal and fetal cardiovascular responses to an acute bout of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) during pregnancy.

Methods: Fifteen women with a singleton pregnancy (27.3 ± 3.

Optimizing Blood Glucose Control through the Timing of Exercise in Pregnant Individuals Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of moderate intensity walking on postprandial blood glucose control for pregnant individuals with (GDM) and without gestational diabetes mellitus (NON-GDM). Using a randomized cross-over design, individuals completed 5 days of exercise (three 10-min walks immediately after eating (SHORT), or one 30-min walk (LONG) outside of 1 h after eating). These protocols were preceded and separated by 2-days of habitual exercise (NORMAL).

Increased respiratory modulation of cardiovascular control reflects improved blood pressure regulation in pregnancy.

Hypertensive pregnancy disorders put the maternal-fetal dyad at risk and are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. Multiple efforts have been made to understand the physiological mechanisms behind changes in blood pressure. Still, to date, no study has focused on analyzing the dynamics of the interactions between the systems involved in blood pressure control.

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the impact of healthy and complex pregnancy on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) at rest, and in response to stress. Structured searches of electronic databases were performed until February 23, 2022. All study designs (except reviews) were included: population (pregnant individuals); exposures (healthy and complicated pregnancy with direct measures of MSNA); comparator (individuals who were not pregnant, or with uncomplicated pregnancy); and outcomes (MSNA, BP, and heart rate).