Actividad física durante el embarazo: creencias, beneficios, recomendaciones y contraindicaciones

Jorge Fernando Luna-Hernández; Guadalupe López-Rodríguez

doi:10.29057/mjmr.v13i26.14569

Authors

Jorge Fernando Luna-Hernández Universidad del Istmo, Juchitán, México https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6458-4960
Guadalupe López-Rodríguez Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, México https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5432-0382

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29057/mjmr.v13i26.14569

Keywords:

Physical activity, Physical exercise, Pregnancy, Benefits, Constraindications

Abstract

The practice of physical activity and physical exercise (PA/ PE) is fundamental to the health of the entire population. Despite erroneous beliefs that have been held for many years, more recent studies have shown that PA/PE is safe and confers health benefits to the mother and her baby. However, several studies have shown that the prescription of physical activity by health personnel is often limited, inaccurate and in some cases absent, which is perpetuated by the mothers' own beliefs. In this sense, a reduction in PA during pregnancy is frequently reported, motivated by popular beliefs about the contraindication of its practice, the mother's age, ethnicity, schooling and socioeconomic level. Furthermore, from the preventive point of view, the hygienic-dietary recommendations have been more important than PA/PE recommendations during prenatal care. In this sense, the aim of this review is to describe the beliefs, benefits, recommendations and contraindications of PA/PE during pregnancy, in order to facilitate decision making by prenatal care providers.

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