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12:01 AM EDT/Friday, April 17, 2009
Contact: Donna Krupa
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Office: (301) 634-7209
Cell: (703) 967-2751
dkrupa@the-aps.org
Exercise-Exposed Fetuses
Have Improved Breathing Movements In Utero, A Marker For Healthy
Development
NEW ORLEANS— Exercise has many benefits for adults, teens, and
youngsters. It is less clear what benefit, if any, exercise may have during
fetal growth during gestation. Now that scientists have determined that,
generally speaking, maternal exercise poses no significant risk to a fetus,
studies are underway to examine the mother/fetus/exercise/health connection.
One important study is now complete. Entitled The Effects of Maternal
Exercise on Fetal Breathing Movements, it was conducted by Stephanie
Million and Linda E. May, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
(KCUMB), Kansas City, MO; and Kathleen M. Gustafson, University of Kansas
Medical Center (KUMC), Kansas City, KS. The researchers will discuss their
findings at the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS;
www.the-aps.org/press), which is part of the Experimental Biology 2009
scientific conference. The meeting will be held April 18-22, 2009 in New
Orleans.
Study and Background
The primary aim of the pilot project was to test the theory that maternal
exercise imparts a cardiovascular benefit to the fetus. The secondary aim
was to determine if exercise-exposed fetuses have increased breathing
movements compared to non-exercise exposed fetuses. Fetal breathing
movements are a marker of fetal well-being and reflect functional
development of the respiratory system and central nervous system control.
The researchers used a non-invasive, dedicated fetal biomagnetometer to
measure maternal and fetal magnetocardiograms (MCG) along with fetal
movements (breathing, body movements, hiccups and non-nutritive suck).
Unlike an ultrasound, which takes static measurements of anatomy, MCG
records the physiology of the developing fetus.
The investigators looked at the results from pregnant women between 20
and 35 years of age. The mothers were classified as exercisers if they
performed moderate intensity aerobic exercise at least 30 minutes three
times per week (moderate to vigorous walking, stationary bicycling and
running). Mothers in the control category did not partake of a regular
exercise routine. The MCG was measured between 24-36 weeks gestational age.
Between 36-38 weeks gestational age, breathing movements were identified
using specific criterion. Measures of fetal heart rate and autonomic control
were analyzed during episodes of fetal breathing and non-breathing
movements. Although there was no difference in the number of breathing
episodes, differences were noted between the groups.
Results
The researchers found:
-
Fetal HR was significantly lower in the exercise group
during both breathing and non-breathing movement periods.
-
Fetal short-term and overall heart rate variability were
higher in the exercise group during breathing movements.
-
Three independent measures of vagal control were higher in
the exercise-exposed fetuses during breathing movements.
-
During periods of fetal non-breathing, there were no
significant differences in measures of vagal control between groups.
There were no group or breathing period differences in sympathetic heart
rate control.
Conclusion
According to Drs. May and Gustafson, “These findings suggest a potential
benefit of maternal exercise on fetal development because of the link
between fetal breathing movements and the developing autonomic nervous
system.” Their next step is to use exercise as a potential intervention to
improve short and long term outcomes in children born to women at risk for
gestational diabetes.
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Physiology is the study of
how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function to create health or
disease. The American Physiological Society (APS;
www.The-APS.org/press) has been an integral part of this discovery
process since it was established in 1887.
NOTE TO EDITORS: The APS
annual meeting is part of the Experimental Biology 2009 (EB ’09) gathering
and will be held April 18-22, 2009 at the New Orleans Convention Center. To
schedule an interview with Dr. May, please contact Donna Krupa at
301.634.7209 (office), 703.967.2751 (cell) or
DKrupa@the-APS.org.
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