Benefits of therapeutic water exercise in pregnant women. A systematic review

Abstract

Background: There are numerous studies that offer us data on the benefits of therapeutic physical activity during pregnancy in terms of health, although in addition to the physical and emotional benefits, it is also important to know in what terms this activity helps to prevent and treat common pathologies in the prepartum and postpartum periods, as well as its influence on the optimal development of the foetus and better adaptation to childbirth.

Objectives: To carry out a systematic review of the studies that address the maternal and foetal benefits of physical activity in the aquatic environment during pregnancy and its influence on antepartum and postpartum health and the prevention of pathologies.

Method: We analysed all the studies relating therapeutic exercise in the aquatic environment to pregnant women. An analysis of 21 articles was carried out to carry out this systematic review, using the Medline, Scielo, PEDro and Cochrane Library databases.

Results: Therapeutic physical activity in the aquatic environment has effects on both mother and child at physiological and antopometric levels, also influencing the type of delivery and evolutionary development of the baby.

Conclusions: Therapeutic physical exercise in the aquatic environment not only has no adverse maternal-fetal effects but also helps to prevent and treat pathologies during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.

Key words: Pregnant woman, aquatic activity, exercise, childbirth.