Effect of Aerobic Dance on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Pregnant Women: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Introduction: It is recommended that healthy pregnant women should undertake moderate physical activityfor 30 minutes on most days of the week throughout pregnancy 1,4. The aim of the present study was toevaluate the effect of a 12-week programme of twice-weekly aerobic dance classes, in addition to 30 minutesof moderate self-imposed physicalactivity on the remaining week days, on cardiorespiratory fitness inprimiparous women.Material and Method: This study was a secondary analysis of a randomized controlledtrial comparing agroup undertaking aerobic exercise with a non-exercising control group.Results and Conclusion: This study showed that a 12-week aerobic dance programme had no effecton cardiorespiratory fitness in pregnant women. It has been reported that even small improvements incardiorespiratory fitness may cause an overall lower mortality rate in adults24,25.