Background Previous studies have concluded that moderate exercise has no adverse effects during uncomplicated pregnancy. For women who are well-trained prior to pregnancy, more vigorous exercise has also been shown to be safe. Increasingly, female athletes want to maintain as high a level of fitness as possible during pregnancy. Whilst it has been demonstrated that previously sedentary women experience increased aerobic fitness and lactate tolerance through moderate exercise during pregnancy, guidelines regarding maintenance of high fitness levels for female athletes during pregnancy are not clear or well tested. Aim To assess the effects of vigorous exercise in pregnant athletes, and contribute to the establishment of exercise standards during pregnancy for this population. Methods Forty-one healthy athletes who had been performing regular exercise before conception were monitored from week 17 of pregnancy to week 12 following child birth. The athletes were divided into two groups: those performing a high-volume exercise programme and those in a medium-volume exercise group. Both exercise programmes included strength, aerobic endurance (heart rate 120-140 beats per minute) and aerobic interval (170-180 beats per minute) training. The high-and medium-volume groups differed in terms of the length of the individual training sessions, resulting in an average of eight hours per week for the high-volume group compared with six hours per week exercise for the medium-volume group. Subjects underwent laboratory testing at weeks 17, 30 and 36 of the pregnancy and 6 and 12 weeks following child birth. This included measurement of bodyweight, body fat, maximum oxygen consumption, exercise heart rate and blood lactate. Results Overall, the two training groups responded similarly to exercise during pregnancy, with the high-volume training group having consistently greater fitness levels than the moderate-volume group. The high-volume group exhibited significantly lower sub-maximal working heart rate and significantly higher maximum oxygen consumption at week 12 following child birth compared with week 36 of pregnancy. No differences were detected for these measures at week 36 of pregnancy and week 12 following child birth for the medium-volume group. No differences in blood lactate response were detected between the two training groups. Practical implications for the coach The author concludes that high fitness levels are maintained during pregnancy when suitably vigorous training is maintained. However, it is acknowledged that proposing a specific training programme for pregnant athletes is difficult because of the requirements of different sports and athletes. It is suggested that the general volume and intensity performed by the high-volume group is suitable for maintenance of fitness in athletes with a high fitness level prior to conception. Of interest to coaches and athletes is the observation that these suggested training levels are higher than present recommendations. It therefore appears that, for uncomplicated pregnancies, a relatively high level of training during pregnancy is preferred if aiming to optimise fitness levels and thus minimise time to return to full training.
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