The Impact of Medical Physical Training and a Structured Personalized Exercise Training Program on Hemodynamic Parameters and Arterial Stiffness in Pregnant Women
Izabella Petre,
Stela Iurciuc,
Florina Buleu,
Ion Petre,
Radu Dumitru Moleriu,
Daian Popa,
Vladiana Turi,
Anca Bordianu,
Rabia Tasdemir,
Laura Maria Craciun,
Luciana Marc,
Flavia Mirela Barna,
Mircea Iurciuc
Affiliations
Izabella Petre
Department XII of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Stela Iurciuc
Department of Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Florina Buleu
County Emergency Clinical Hospital “Pius Brinzeu”, 300732 Timisoara, Romania
Ion Petre
Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Radu Dumitru Moleriu
Department of Functional Sciences, Medical Informatics and Biostatistics Discipline, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Daian Popa
Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Vladiana Turi
Department of Internal Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Anca Bordianu
Department of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery Bagdasar-Arseni, Emergency Hospital Bucharest, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
Rabia Tasdemir
County Emergency Clinical Hospital “Pius Brinzeu”, 300732 Timisoara, Romania
Laura Maria Craciun
Department of Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Luciana Marc
Centre for Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Flavia Mirela Barna
Department of Finance, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300115 Timisoara, Romania
Mircea Iurciuc
Department of Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Introduction: In developed countries, heart disease is the primary cause of maternal mortality during pregnancy. Arterial stiffness, an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and a predictor of cardiovascular complications, can be assessed using the augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV). In this prospective study, we aimed to evaluate diverse hemodynamic parameters and arterial stiffness in pregnant women before and after participating in a structured, personalized exercise training program. Materials and methods: Forty healthy pregnant women, non-smokers, who agreed to participate daily for 12 weeks in a physical exercise training program under the supervision of a team made up of an obstetrician, a cardiologist, and a physiotherapist were included. Anthropometric characteristics, arterial function, and physical activity data were collected from the participants at two different time points: at the beginning of the exercise training program (T0) and at the end, after 12 weeks (T1). Results: Upon conducting a statistical analysis, it was discovered that there were noteworthy disparities (p = 0.05) in body mass index, brachial AIx, systolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure values between the two time points. The regression analysis for the AIx brachial values and the PWVao values from Trim II (T0) and Trim III (T1) showed major differences between these two time points; the association between the AIx brachial values in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy revealed a strong direct significant correlation (p p = 0.12). Conclusions: The findings of our study indicate that a personalized exercise training program positively impacts the physical and psychological well-being of pregnant women, leading to a reduction in PWV.
