Effects on the maternal-fetal health outcomes of various physical activity types in healthy pregnant women. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) promotes health in pregnancy. Objective To collate the recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the effects of various types of PA during pregnancy on maternal-fetal health outcomes, among healthy mothers, and to report the variability in the outcomes reported. Search strategy Registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019143522). Systematic search conducted in EMBASE, CENTRAL, MEDLINE and CINAHL, from 2015−2020. Selection criteria RCT examining PA interventions and maternal-fetal outcomes. Data collection and analysis Were independently extracted by two reviewers. Quality of studies was assessed with Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool. Results 37 studies (6857 women) were included. PA had a protective effect on gestational weight gain (overall SMD −0.32, 95 % CI −0.46, −0.17, I2 77 %; supervised exercise SMD −0.15, 95 % CI −0.28, −0.02, I2 51 %; static cycling SMD −0.32, 95 % CI −0.59, −0.05; I2 49 %), gestational diabetes (overall OR 0.65, 95 % CI: 0.43, 0.98, I2 48 %), and hypertensive disorders (overall OR 0.51, 95 % CI: 0.31, 0.83, I2 0%). Conclusions PA in pregnancy had a preventive effect on weight gain, gestational diabetes, and hypertensive disorders. Supervised exercise and static cycling had a protective effect on gestational weight gain. Variation in outcomes reported suggest establishing a core outcome set.