Home-based walking during pregnancy affects mood and birth outcomes among sedentary women: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether home-based walking could improve pregnancy outcomes and mood in sedentary Japanese women.
Results Summary
The walking group showed reduced depression-dejection and confusion scores but no differences in pregnancy or delivery outcomes. Only 9.2% completed the full walking program, while 59.3% completed at least 80%.
Population
Sedentary Japanese women aged 22-36 years during pregnancy.
Effective Dosage
Brisk walking for 30 minutes, three times weekly.
Duration
From 30 weeks' gestation until delivery.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
home-based walking | no change | pregnancy or delivery outcomes | sedentary Japanese women | no significant change | showed no differences regarding | #1 |
home-based walking | decrease | depression-dejection subscale of the Profile of Mood States | sedentary Japanese women | - | exhibited decreased scores on | #2 |
home-based walking | decrease | confusion subscale of the Profile of Mood States | sedentary Japanese women | - | exhibited decreased scores on | #3 |
unsupervised walking | increase | mood | sedentary pregnant women | - | improves | #4 |
We examined the effects of home-based walking on sedentary Japanese women's pregnancy outcomes and mood. A randomized controlled trial was conducted, involving 118 women aged 22-36 years. Participants were randomly assigned to walking intervention (n = 60) or control (n = 58) groups. The walking group was instructed to walk briskly for 30 min, three times weekly from 30 weeks' gestation until delivery. Both groups counted their daily steps using pedometers. Pregnancy and delivery outcomes were assessed, participants completed the Profile of Mood States, and we used the intention-to-treat principle. Groups showed no differences regarding pregnancy or delivery outcomes. The walking group exhibited decreased scores on the depression-dejection and confusion subscales of the Profile of Mood States. Five of the 54 women in the intervention group who remained in the study (9.2%) completed 100% of the prescribed walking program; 32 (59.3%) women completed 80% or more. Unsupervised walking improves sedentary pregnant women's mood, indicating that regular walking during pregnancy should be promoted in this group.