Effects Of Aerobic Exercises on Antenatal Depression in Pregnant Women: Aerobic Exercises on Antenatal Depression

Amina  Riaz; Iqra Abdul  Ghafoor; Nimra  Fazal; Amna  Shahid; Amara  Anwar; Sadia  Sukhera; Muhammad  Faizan Hamid

doi:10.54393/pbmj.v5i4.405

Authors

Amina Riaz Noor Hospital, Kot Radha Kishan
Iqra Abdul Ghafoor Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Riphah International University, Lahore. Pakistan
Nimra Fazal Superior College Rahim Yar Khan
Amna Shahid Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Riphah International University, Lahore. Pakistan
Amara Anwar Alshifa Institute of Health Sciences of Narowal
Sadia Sukhera Quaid e Azam University, Sahiwal
Muhammad Faizan Hamid University of South Asia, Cantt campus, Lahore

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v5i4.405

Keywords:

Antenatal depression, Aerobic exercise, CES-D, Fetus, Pregnant women

Abstract

Pregnancy is a distinctive period in the life of all women. The routine of a pregnant woman has a substantial impact on her and her fetus. Consistent physical activity is one of the best factors that help maintain normal mental and physical well-being. Antenatal depression is not uncommon and is associated with a greater risk of negative pregnancy outcomes. Objective: To determine the effects of aerobic exercises on antenatal depression in pregnant women. Methods: Total 30 participants are included in this study. Exercise group regularly attended supervised sessions for 8 weeks. The activities in each session included walking, aerobic exercise, stretching, and relaxation. Aerobic activities were prescribed at moderate-to-vigorous intensity. However, the benefits of supervised exercise and its effects on health status were discussed. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used to assess depression symptoms at the first interview and immediately after the 8^th week of treatment protocol. Shapiro-wilk test was used to check the normality of data. Results: Exercise group showed significantly improved depressive symptoms as measured with the CES-D after the 8^thweek of intervention on the CES-D. The participants demonstrated a significant improvement of depressive symptoms from standard to intervention completion. Paired sample T test used to check pre and post treatment effectiveness and less than 0.05 p-value of paired sample T test tells us that there is a significant change in pre and post treatment. Conclusion: Aerobic exercises during pregnancy were led to significant reduction of depressive symptoms.

References

D. Kołomańska, M. Zarawski, and A. Mazur-Bialy, "Physical activity and depressive disorders in pregnant women—A systematic review," Medicina, vol. 55, no. 5, p. 212, 2019.

A. F. Robledo-Colonia, N. Sandoval-Restrepo, Y. F. Mosquera-Valderrama, C. Escobar-Hurtado, and R. Ramírez-Vélez, "Aerobic exercise training during pregnancy reduces depressive symptoms in nulliparous women: a randomised trial," Journal of physiotherapy, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 9-15, 2012.

A. Bowen and N. Muhajarine, "Prevalence of antenatal depression in women enrolled in an outreach program in Canada," Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 491-498, 2006.

A. Bowen and N. Muhajarine, "Antenatal depression," The Canadian Nurse, vol. 102, no. 9, p. 27, 2006.

M. S. Poudevigne and P. J. O’Connor, "A review of physical activity patterns in pregnant women and their relationship to psychological health," Sports medicine, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 19-38, 2006.

T. Field, "Prenatal exercise research," Infant Behavior and Development, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 397-407, 2012.

K. M. Songøygard, S. N. Stafne, K. A. I. Evensen, K. Å. Salvesen, T. Vik, and S. MØRkved, "Does exercise during pregnancy prevent postnatal depression? A randomized controlled trial," Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, vol. 91, no. 1, pp. 62-67, 2012.

E. D. Watson, B. Oddie, and D. Constantinou, "Exercise during pregnancy: knowledge and beliefs of medical practitioners in South Africa: a survey study," BMC pregnancy and childbirth, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 1-7, 2015.

K. R. Evenson and L. A. Pompeii, "Obstetrician practice patterns and recommendations for physical activity during pregnancy," Journal of Women's Health, vol. 19, no. 9, pp. 1733-1740, 2010.

M. M. El-Rafie, G. M. Khafagy, and M. G. Gamal, "Effect of aerobic exercise during pregnancy on antenatal depression," International journal of women's health, vol. 8, p. 53, 2016.

M. Vargas-Terrones, R. Barakat, B. Santacruz, I. Fernandez-Buhigas, and M. F. Mottola, "Physical exercise programme during pregnancy decreases perinatal depression risk: a randomised controlled trial," British journal of sports medicine, vol. 53, no. 6, pp. 348-353, 2019.

A. Daley et al., "The effectiveness of exercise for the prevention and treatment of antenatal depression: systematic review with meta‐analysis," BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, vol. 122, no. 1, pp. 57-62, 2015.

A. D. Stein, J. M. Rivera, and J. M. Pivarnik, "Measuring energy expenditure in habitually active and sedentary pregnant women," Medicine and science in sports and exercise, vol. 35, no. 8, pp. 1441-1446, 2003.

J. Eastwood, F. A. Ogbo, A. Hendry, J. Noble, A. Page, and E. Y. R. Group, "The impact of antenatal depression on perinatal outcomes in Australian women," PLoS One, vol. 12, no. 1, p. e0169907, 2017.

K. M. Parker and S. A. Smith, "Aquatic-aerobic exercise as a means of stress reduction during pregnancy," The Journal of Perinatal Education, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 6, 2003.

A. Goodwin, J. Astbury, and J. McMeeken, "Body image and psychological well‐being in pregnancy. A comparison of exercisers and non‐exercisers," Australian and New Zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 442-447, 2000.

W. J. Hueston and S. Kasik-Miller, "Changes in functional health status during normal pregnancy," Journal of family practice, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 209-212, 1998.

H. Gong, C. Ni, X. Shen, T. Wu, and C. Jiang, "Yoga for prenatal depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis," BMC psychiatry, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 1-8, 2015.

D. Koniak‐Griffin, "Aerobic exercise, psychological well‐being, and physical discomforts during adolescent pregnancy," Research in nursing & health, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 253-263, 1994.

A. M. Wallace, D. B. Boyer, A. Dan, and K. Holm, "Aerobic exercise, maternal self-esteem, and physical discomforts during pregnancy," Journal of nurse-midwifery, vol. 31, no. 6, pp. 255-262, 1986.

S. Marquez-Sterling, A. C. Perry, T. A. Kaplan, R. A. Halberstein, and J. F. Signorile, "Physical and psychological changes with vigorous exercise in sedentary primigravidae," Medicine and science in sports and exercise, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 58-62, 2000.