Impact of heavy resistance training on pregnancy and postpartum health outcomes

Christina Prevett; Miranda L Kimber; Lori Forner; Marlize de Vivo; Margie H Davenport

doi:10.1007/s00192-022-05393-1

Impact of heavy resistance training on pregnancy and postpartum health outcomes

Int Urogynecol J. 2023 Feb;34(2):405-411. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05393-1. Epub 2022 Nov 4.

Authors

Christina Prevett¹, Miranda L Kimber², Lori Forner³, Marlize de Vivo⁴, Margie H Davenport⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Clinical Excellence, Concord, NC, USA.
² Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
³ The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
⁴ Active Pregnancy Foundation, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK.
⁵ Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. mdavenpo@ualberta.ca.

PMID: 36331580
DOI: 10.1007/s00192-022-05393-1

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis: Participation in Olympic weightlifting, the Valsalva maneuver, and acute or prolonged supine weightlifting during pregnancy are cautioned against; however, these recommendations are based on expert opinions as opposed to empirical evidence. The aim of this study was to examine the training and health outcomes of individuals who engaged in heavy resistance training during pregnancy.

Methods: A total of 679 individuals who lifted at least 80% one-repetition maximum during pregnancy participated in an online survey.

Results: Participants were primarily recreational athletes (88%, 332 out of 675) engaged in CrossFit™ (61%, 410 out of 675) and/or weightlifting (49%, 332 out of 675) during pregnancy. Most participants reported no complications during pregnancy or delivery (66%, 388 out of 589), whereas 57% (241 out of 426) reported urinary incontinence following pregnancy. Participants who maintained pre-pregnancy training levels until delivery reported significantly less reproductive complications than those who ceased training levels prior to delivery (p = 0.006). Most respondents engaged in Olympic lifting (72%, 311 out of 432) and lifting in a supine position (71%, 306 out of 437), whereas fewer reported use of the Valsalva maneuver during pregnancy (34%, 142 out of 412). Most returned to weightlifting following delivery (89%, 400 out of 447, average: 3.2 ± 3.0 months), including Olympic lifting (81%, 300 out of 372, average: 4.0 ± 3.4 months) and Valsalva (62%, 213 out of 341, average: 4.5 ± 3.6 months).

Conclusions: Individuals who engaged in heavy prenatal resistance training had typical perinatal and pelvic floor health outcomes that were not altered whether they engaged in, or avoided Olympic lifting, Valsalva or supine weightlifting.

Keywords: Olympic weightlifting; Postnatal; Prenatal; Supine weightlifting; Valsalva; Weightlifting.

MeSH terms

Exercise
Female
Humans
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Postpartum Period
Pregnancy
Resistance Training*
Weight Lifting