Purpose: Physical and hormonal modifications occuring during the pregnancy, can lead to an increase in postural instability and to a higher risk of falls during gait. The first objective was to describe the center of pressure (COP) during late pregnancy at different gait velocity. Comparison of nulliparous women with postpartum women were conducted in order to investigate the effects of pregnancy. The second objective was to analyse COP variability between pregnant and non-pregnant women in order to investigate the effects of pregnancy on gait variability.
Methods: Fifty-eight pregnant women in the last four months of pregnancy, nine postpartum women and twenty-three healthy non-pregnant women performed gait trials at three different speeds: preferred, slow and fast.
Results: In the last four months of pregnancy gait velocity decreased. During the pregnancy, gait velocity decreased by 22%, stopover time increased by 6-12%, COP excursion XY decreased by 5% and COP velocity decreased by 16% and 20% along the anteroposterior and transverse axes, respectively. After delivery, gait velocity increased by 3% but remained a lower compared to non-pregnant women (-12%). Intra-individual variability was greater for non-pregnant than pregnant women.
Conclusions: COP parameters were influenced by pregnancy. This suggests that pregnant women establish very specific and individual strategies with the aim of maintaining stability during gait.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Sex-dependent effects of rat maternal immune activation on motor function in offspring of poly I:C treated rats.
Behav Brain Res
March 2025
Department of Psychology, University of Otago, New Zealand. Electronic address:
A majority of people with schizophrenia will experience motor symptoms such as impairments to coordination, balance and motor sequencing. These neurological soft signs are associated with negative social and functional outcomes, and poor disease prognosis. They occur prior to medication exposure, suggesting they are an intrinsic feature of schizophrenia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGiant encephalocele in newborns: prenatal diagnosis, management and outcome.
Childs Nerv Syst
January 2025
Department of Global Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada.
Background: A giant encephalocele associated with Chiari malformation is a rare congenital anomaly from a cephalad neural tube defect. Early prenatal diagnosis and parental counseling are essential; as early surgical intervention can improve outcomes.
Methods: Between 2010 and 2023, twenty-seven newborns out of 43,815 delivered at our institution were diagnosed with encephaloceles, including seven cases of giant encephalocele associated with Chiari malformation type III.
The Effect of Clinical Exercise Training on Plantar Pressure, the Subtalar Joint, and the Gait Cycle in Pregnant Women: Randomized Clinical Trial.
J Clin Med
December 2024
Gynecology And Obstetrics Department, Ege University, 35040 Izmir, Turkey.
: This study aims to examine the effects of clinical exercise training on foot plantar pressure, the subtalar joint, and the gait cycle during pregnancy. : The study was planned as a randomized, controlled, and single-blind study. Participants' demographic information, obstetric evaluation, physical activity level, fall history, and pain evaluation were recorded.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSafety evaluation of medroxyprogesterone acetate: a pharmacovigilance analysis using FDA adverse event reporting system data.
Front Pharmacol
December 2024
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Background: Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a synthetic progestogen, is extensively used for the treatment of various conditions, including contraception, irregular menstruation, functional uterine bleeding, and endometriosis. However, like all pharmaceutical agents, MPA is associated with adverse drug reactions. This study aimed to evaluate the adverse events (AEs) associated with MPA in by analyzing real-world data from the U.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPregnancy-induced gait alterations: meta-regression evidence of spatiotemporal adjustments.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol
December 2024
Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
During pregnancy, women undergo significant physiological, hormonal, and biomechanical changes that influence their gait. The forward shift of the center of mass and increased joint loads often result in a "waddling gait," elevating the risk of falls. While gait changes during pregnancy have been documented, findings across studies remain inconsistent, particularly regarding variations at different pregnancy stages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!