Maternal Exercise during Pregnancy Impacts Motor Performance in 9-Year-Old Children
A Pilot Study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15717487 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nina Ferrari (0000-0001-6832-0199, German Sport University Cologne, corresponding author), Nikola Schmidt (0000-0001-9761-4380, German Sport University Cologne), Inga Bae‐Gartz (0000-0002-4061-503X, University of Cologne), Christina Vohlen (0000-0002-6395-7999, University of Cologne), Miguel A Alejandre Alcázar (0000-0002-3176-0411, University of Cologne), Konrad Brockmeier (University of Cologne), Jörg Dötsch (0000-0003-1529-7647, University of Cologne), Esther Mahabir (0000-0002-9573-5127, University of Cologne), Christine Joisten (0000-0002-2455-8901, German Sport University Cologne) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Pages | 1797-1797 |
| Publication date | 2023-11-08 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Children (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2227-9067 • E-ISSN: 2227-9067 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/children10111797 |
| PMID | 38002888 |
| OpenAlex | W4388531093 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 42 |
The benefits of maternal physical activity during pregnancy are well documented, but long-term effects on the child have been less studied. Therefore, we conducted a pilot follow-up study of a lifestyle intervention during pregnancy that aimed to investigate whether exercise (endurance and strength training) during pregnancy affects motor performance and body composition of children up to 9 years of age, as well as possible influencing factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and lifestyle. Eleven mother-child pairs from the intervention and eight mother-child pairs from the control group were included. From birth up to 9 years of age, no differences in body mass index (BMI) or body mass index standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS) were found between the groups. Lifestyle intervention was one of the influencing factors for children's cardiorespiratory endurance capacity and coordination. Moreover, maternal BDNF in the last trimester was significantly associated with running performance, which may be due to better neuronal development. This is the first study evaluating the effects of a lifestyle intervention during pregnancy on the motor performance 9 years after birth. Children's participation in exercise programs over the past 9 years was not continuously recorded and therefore not included in the analysis. Even a cautious interpretation of these results indicates that a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy is essential in promoting child health. Larger studies and randomized control trials are necessary to confirm our results, especially those pertaining to the role of BDNF
Body mass index · Cardiorespiratory fitness · Intervention (counseling · Physical therapy · Pregnancy · Psychiatry · Randomized controlled trial · Cardiovascular Issues in Pregnancy · Children's Physical and Motor Development · Gestational Diabetes Research and Management · Medicine · Internal Medicine
| Highly cited | No |
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