BackgroundDuring pregnancy, a sedentary lifestyle may have negative consequences on maternal and foetal health status. The main objective of this project is to assess the effects of an exercise intervention in overweight and grade I obese pregnant on maternal and foetal health markers.Methods/designThe present study aims to recruit 60 overweight and grade I obese women interested in participating in an exercise intervention program from the 17th gestational week until delivery. Women will be randomized to either an exercise (three 60-min sessions/week of combined aerobic and strength training and pelvic floor exercises), or usual care (control) group (30 women per group). The primary outcome measures are maternal weight gain, and maternal and neonatal glycaemic profile. Secondary outcome measures are: i) perinatal obstetric records; i) body composition; iii) dietary patterns; iv) physical fitness; v) low-back pain; vi) objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour; vii) haematology and biochemical analyses; viii) oxidative stress; ix) pro- and anti-inflammatory markers; x) bone health biomarkers; xi) sleep quality; xii) mental health, quality of life and positive health.DiscussionThe findings of this project will help to identify strategies for primary prevention and health promotion based on this exercise-based intervention program among overweight and grade I obese pregnant women.Trial registration NCT02582567; Date of registration: 20/10/2015

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This study aimed (a) to examine the construct validity of the International Fitness Scale (IFIS) to discriminate between different objectively measured physical fitness levels in pregnant women and (b) to assess the extent to which IFIS is able to discriminate between pregnant women with different levels of health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). A total of 159 pregnant women were involved in the GESTAtion and FITness project: 106 pregnant women (mean age 32.7, SD 4.4 years) were included. Self‐reported physical fitness—that is, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, flexibility, and overall fitness—was assessed with the IFIS. Physical fitness was objectively measured using the Bruce test, the handgrip strength test and the back‐scratch test. The HRQoL was assessed with the 36‐item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36). Higher self‐reported physical fitness measured with IFIS was associated with higher objectively measured physical fitness (P < .05). There was a linear association so that higher self‐reported physical fitness (ie, IFIS; regardless of the fitness component) was related to greater General Health dimension scores (P < .05). Moreover, higher self‐reported physical fitness (all components except muscular strength) was associated with better Physical Functioning, lower Bodily Pain and higher Vitality scores (ie, SF‐36 components). This linear trend was not seen for objectively measured physical fitness. The results of this study suggest that IFIS might be a useful tool for identifying pregnant women with low or very low physical fitness and with low quality of life health‐related. Further research should elucidate whether IFIS can identify women with pregnancy complications before it can be implemented in clinical practice.

The aims of this study were: (i) to analyse the load-velocity relationship in the bilateral leg-press exercise in female breast cancer survivors, (ii) to assess whether mean velocity (MV) or peak velocity (PV) show stronger relationship with the relative load, and (iii) to examine whether linear (LA) or polynomic (PA) adjustment predict the velocities associated with each %1RM with greater precision. Twenty-two female breast cancer survivors (age: 50.2 ± 10.8 years, weight: 69.6 ± 15.2 kg, height: 160.51 ± 5.25 cm) completed an incremental load test until 1RM in the bilateral leg-press exercise. The MV and the PV of the concentric phase were measured in each repetition using a linear velocity transducer, and were analysed by regression models using LA and PA. A very close relationship of MV (R 2 = 0.924; p < 0.0001; SEE = 0.08m . s −1 by LA, and R² = 0.952; p < 0.0001; SEE = 0.063 m . s −1 by PA) and PV (R² = 0.928; p < 0.0001; SEE = 0.119 m . s −1 by LA and R² = 0.941; p < 0.0001; SEE = 0.108 m . s −1 by PA) with %1RM were observed. The MV of 1RM was 0.24 ± 0.03 m•s −1 , whereas the PV at 1RM was 0.60 ± 0.10 m . s −1 . A comprehensive analysis of the bilateral leg-press load-velocity relationship in breast cancer survivors is presented. The results suggest that MV is the most recommendable velocity variable to prescribe the relative load during resistance training, and that the PA presents better accuracy to predict velocities associated with each %1RM, although LA is sufficiently valid to use this model as an alternative to the quadratic model. The implications for resistance training in breast cancer are discussed.