Evidence-based recommendations for consideration in physical activity screening in pregnant women without contraindications
| RECOMMENDATION | LEVEL* | GRADE† |
|---|---|---|
| There is no evidence that previously inactive or active women (without contraindications) are at risk of adverse fetal events if they participate in routine physical activity throughout pregnancy. Pregnant women without contraindications should be encouraged to partake in a variety of moderate-intensity physical activities (eg, walking, stationary cycling, swimming) | III | B |
| Pregnant women without contraindications (who were previously active or inactive before pregnancy) are at low risk of adverse maternal events if they participate in routine moderate-intensity physical activities (eg, walking, stationary cycling, swimming). Pregnant women should be encouraged to partake in routine physical activity | II | B |
| Healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies can be stratified as low risk irrespective of activity level before pregnancy. Further systematic evaluation is required to determine the risk of adverse exercise-related events in pregnant women presenting with pre-existing medical conditions or contraindications to exercise | III | A |
↵* Level I evidence includes randomized controlled trials; level II evidence includes randomized controlled trials with important limitations or observational trials with overwhelming evidence; level III evidence includes observational trials; and level IV evidence includes anecdotal evidence or expert opinion.
↵† Grade A recommendations are strong; grade B recommendations are intermediate; and grade C recommendations are weak.