Hemodynamic Fetal Response to Maternal Isometric Exercise in Pregnant Patients with Diabetes

Abstract

Background: Studies on physical activity during pregnancy and its impact on mother and fetus are still limited. International protocols consider only aerobic exercise and fail to provide information about other modalities such as isometric exercise. Isometric exercise promotes cardiorespiratory resistance and muscle strengthening, but it is rarely tested on pregnant women because it increases maternal blood pressure and can subsequently affect placental circulation. Objectives: To assess the fetal response by use of Doppler study in diabetes pregnant women submitted to isometric exercise. Methods: A cross-sectional experimental study was conducted on 25 diabetes pregnant women with gestational age between 26 and 36 weeks. The patients were submitted to isometric handgrip, and data were collected from the mother (blood pressure, heart rate and Doppler velocimetry for the uterine arteries) and from the fetus (heart rate, Doppler velocimetry for the umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery and ductus venosus). All variables were collected before, during and after the isometric handgrip. Results: There was a significant reduction in the pulsatilityindex (average values pre 0.77 ± 0.30, trans 0.65 ± 0.22, and post 0.75 ± 0.22, with p = 0.001), resistance index (average values pre 0.49