Walking Promotion in Pregnancy and Its Effects on Insomnia: Results of Walking_Preg Project (WPP) Clinical Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if a walking promotion program starting at the 12th gestational week could prevent insomnia and improve sleep quality in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Results Summary
The walking program did not significantly prevent insomnia or improve sleep quality in the third trimester, with no differences found between intervention and control groups. Linear regression showed no association between average steps/day and insomnia or sleep quality scores.
Population
Pregnant women (270 participants) divided into three groups: maximum intervention (pedometer + 10,000 steps/day goal), minimum intervention (pedometer only), and control (no intervention).
Effective Dosage
Maximum intervention group aimed for 10,000 steps/day; minimum intervention group used pedometers without a step goal.
Duration
From the 12th gestational week to the 32nd gestational week (approximately 20 weeks).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
walking promotion program from the 12th Gestational Week (GW) of pregnancy | no change | insomnia | pregnant women | - | did not help to prevent | #1 |
walking promotion program from the 12th Gestational Week (GW) of pregnancy | no change | quality of sleep | pregnant women | - | did not help to improve | #2 |
maximum intervention group, I1 (pedometer and goal of 10,000 steps/day) | increase | steps/day | pregnant women | 6267 steps/day | reached a mean of | #3 |
minimum intervention group, I2 (pedometer without a goal) | increase | steps/day | pregnant women | 5835 steps/day | reached a mean of | #4 |
minimum intervention group, I2 (pedometer without a goal) | decrease | mean steps/day | pregnant women | - | was lower for | #5 |
walking promotion program based on pedometers | no change | average steps/day at third trimester of pregnancy and AIS and PSQI scores | pregnant women | - | showed no association between | #6 |
Introduction: Insomnia is a frequent condition during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess if a walking promotion program from the 12th Gestational Week (GW) of pregnancy helps to prevent insomnia and improve the quality of sleep at third trimester. Materials and Methods: A prospective, randomized, and controlled trial was conducted with 270 pregnant women divided into 3 groups in parallel: maximum intervention group, I1 (pedometer and goal of 10,000 steps/day), minimum intervention group, I2 (pedometer without a goal), and control group (no intervention). All groups received recommendations about physical activity in pregnancy. A structured interview was performed at 13th, 20th, and 32nd GW, collecting pedometer mean steps/day, Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and Pittsburgh questionnaire (PSQI). Lineal regression models were conducted to determine the association between mean steps/day at 31st GW and AIS or PSQI score. Results: At 19th GW, groups I1 and I2 reached a mean of 6267 steps/day (SD = 3854) and 5835 steps/day (SD = 2741), respectively (p > 0.05). At 31st GW mean steps/day was lower for I2 (p < 0.001). Insomnia and poor sleep quality prevalence increased through pregnancy, but no differences between groups, within trimesters, were found (p > 0.05). Lineal regression showed no association between the average steps/day at third trimester of pregnancy and AIS and PSQI scores. Conclusions: Our walking promotion program based on pedometers did not help to prevent insomnia in the third trimester of pregnancy.