The characteristics and effectiveness of pregnancy yoga interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Yoga is a popular mind-body medicine frequently recommended to pregnant women. Gaps remain in our understanding of the core components of effective pregnancy yoga programmes. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the characteristics and effectiveness of pregnancy yoga interventions, incorporating the FITT (frequency, intensity, time/duration and type) principle of exercise prescription. Methods Nine electronic databases were searched: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, WHOLiS, AMED, ScieLo, ASSIA and Web of Science. Randomised control trials and quasi-experimental studies examining pregnancy yoga interventions were eligible. Covidence was used to screen titles, abstracts, and full-text articles. Outcomes of interest were stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, labour duration, pain management in labour and mode of birth. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Assessment tool was used to assess methodological quality of studies and GRADE criteria (GRADEpro) evaluated quality of the evidence. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Results Of 862 citations retrieved, 31 studies met inclusion criteria. Twenty-nine studies with 2217 pregnant women were included for meta-analysis. Pregnancy yoga interventions reduced anxiety (SMD: -0.91; 95% CI: − 1.49 to − 0.33; p = 0.002), depression (SMD: -0.47; 95% CI: − 0.9 to − 0.04, P = 0.03) and perceived stress (SMD: -1.03; 95% CI: − 1.55 to − 0.52; p < 0.001). Yoga interventions also reduced duration of labour (MD = − 117.75; 95% CI − 153.80 to − 81.71, p < 0.001) and, increased odds of normal vaginal birth (OR 2.58; 95% CI 1.46–4.56, p < 0.001) and tolerance for pain. The quality of evidence (GRADE criteria) was low to very low for all outcomes. Twelve or more yoga sessions delivered weekly/bi-weekly had a statistically significant impact on mode of birth, while 12 or more yoga sessions of long duration (> 60 min) had a statistically significant impact on perceived stress. Conclusion The evidence highlights positive effects of pregnancy yoga on anxiety, depression, perceived stress, mode of birth and duration of labour. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, CRD42019119916. Registered on 11th January 2019.

Prenatal Yoga-Based Interventions May Improve Mental Health during Pregnancy: An Overview of Systematic Reviews with Meta-Analysis

“…We checked a total of 47 titles and abstracts retrieved from electronic databases plus five extra citations that were found after conducting manual searches. Subsequently, 25 full texts were deeply evaluated, and eventually, ten systematic reviews including fifteen meta-analyses and comprising 32 distinct clinical trials were selected [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…Prenatal yoga-based interventions were superior no intervention, waitlist, usual care, attention control, information, social support, or active controls to reduce anxiety symptoms, based on six meta-analyses [ 13 , 16 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…Prenatal yoga-based interventions are considered as safe and harmless [ 11 , 12 ], and seem to be more effective than other physical activities such as walking or standard prenatal exercises [ 11 ]. Several systematic reviews with meta-analysis have recently explored its effectiveness in altering maladaptive psychological symptoms during pregnancy [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. In this sense, an overview of systematic reviews can help us to better understand the role that prenatal yoga-based interventions can play in pregnancy outcomes, knowledge of the methodological quality and the possible primary study overlap among systematic reviews covering this topic and detect potential methodological flaws and gaps in knowledge that guide future agenda in this research field.…”

The Effect of Antepartum Yoga Sequences on Anxiety Levels, Vital Sign Values, and Fetal Heart Rate in Third-Trimester Primigravida

“…The implementation of antepartum yoga in this study was carried out for six sessions (p < 0.001) with a duration of 60 minutes which was statistically significant on anxiety (p = 0.007). (15)The control group was given pregnant exercise with a duration of 60 minutes, six times in the pregnant women's class. This research instrument uses the Pregnancy Outcome Questionnaire (POQ) developed by Theut, Pederson, Zaslow, and Rabinovich in 1988.…”

The correlation between the intensity of prenatal yoga participation on anxiety levels for third trimester pregnant women in facing childbirth in Kartasura district

“…The effect of anxiety according to There is comprehensive evidence that anxiety, depression, and stress in pregnancy are risk factors for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes ranging from preterm birth and low birth weight to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants and children (Corrigan et al, 2022).…”