Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy in Turkey: A narrative review

Year 2023, Volume: 28 Issue: 3, 425 - 432, 28.09.2023

Dilara Özen Oruk

https://doi.org/10.21673/anadoluklin.1211698

Abstract

It is known that physical activity (PA) in pregnancy is beneficial for both women and fetal health. For the optimal exercise prescription, healthcare professionals interested in obstetrics-gynecology should evaluate women carefully before making any exercise recommendations during pregnancy. If there aren’t any contraindications, pregnant women should be encouraged to engage in regular physical activity. This narrative review aimed to determine PA during pregnancy in Turkey. A literature search was performed in the databases. A total of 29 original articles on PA during pregnancy in Turkey were included in this present study. Eighteen studies were chosen from among these articles for analysis. Two studies assessed PA levels in pregnancy with objective/direct methods such as PA monitors and pedometers, and non-objective/indirect methods were used in all 18 studies. Regarding exercise types, the most preferred exercises during pregnancy were walking, breathing exercises, strengthening exercises, and stretching neck muscles. This narrative review revealed that the level of PA participation and the frequency of regular exercise during pregnancy in Turkey is inadequate. More studies are necessary to examine PA participation from various contexts during pregnancy in Turkey to guide interventions for improving maternal health.

Keywords

Exercise, healthy lifestyle, maternal health, pregnancy, pregnant women

Supporting Institution

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Project Number

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Thanks

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Türkiye’de gebelik döneminde fiziksel aktivite ve egzersiz: Bir literatür derlemesi

Abstract

Gebelikte fiziksel aktivitenin (FA) hem kadın hem de fetal sağlık için faydalı olduğu bilinmektedir. Optimal egzersiz reçetesi için kadın doğum-jinekoloji ile ilgilenen sağlık profesyonellerinin gebelikte herhangi bir egzersiz önerisinde bulunmadan önce dikkatli bir değerlendirme yapması gerekir. Herhangi bir kontrendikasyon yoksa, gebeler düzenli fiziksel aktiviteye teşvik edilmelidir. Bu literatür derlemesinde, Türkiye’de gebelik döneminde FA ve egzersiz düzeyini belirlemek amaçlandı. Çeşitli veri tabanlarında literatür taraması yapıldı. Bu çalışmaya Türkiye’de gebelikte PA ile ilgili toplam 29 orijinal makale dahil edildi. Bu çalışmalardan 18 tanesi analiz edildi. İki çalışmada FA monitörleri ve pedometre gibi objektif/doğrudan yöntemlerle gebelik sırasında FA seviyeleri değerlendirildi ve 18 çalışmanın tümünde objektif olmayan/dolaylı yöntemler kullanıldı. Egzersiz türlerine göre gebelikte en çok tercih edilen egzersizler yürüyüş, nefes egzersizleri, kuvvetlendirme egzersizleri ve boyun kaslarını germe egzersizleriydi. Bu derleme, Türkiye’de gebelikte FA katılım düzeyinin ve düzenli egzersiz sıklığının düşük olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Anne sağlığını iyileştirmeye yönelik müdahalelere rehberlik etmek için Türkiye’de hamilelik sırasında çeşitli bağlamlardan FA katılımını inceleyen daha fazla çalışmaya ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

Anne sağlığı, egzersiz, gebelik, gebe kadınlar, sağlıklı yaşam tarzı

Project Number

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