Pregnancy, Physical Activity, Functional Capacity and Adaptations to Exercise

Pregnancy is a time in women’s lives that is associated with considerable physiological and psychological changes. From a scientific point of view, practically all the female body is changing for nine months, sometimes discontinuously, which can cause generate alterations, including psychological. The addition of exercise can generate, in theory, conflicts due to the requirements and reactions of the physical activity itself. Both pregnancy and exercise are biological process which involve striking many adaptations, such adaptations may be in the same or in opposite direction. Depending on the specific variable being studied. The scientific literature has not been totally conclusive regarding the coexistence of two processes: exercise and pregnancy. However there is currently sufficient empirical evidence to support the promotion of moderate prenatal physical activity for maternal health benefits. Most of the studied consulted in this review show that in the absence of obstetric contraindication during pregnancy adding physical exercise should not pose a risk to maternal and fetal well-being.