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Minimizing Risks, And Maximizing Benefits Of Fitness During Pregnancy
Plancher Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Sports orthopaedics expert discusses important steps to an injury-free, fit pregnancy. There's no better time for women to consider the benefits of physical activity than during pregnancy. Myriad studies have shown that women who are physically fit before and during have fewer complications, gain less weight, and give birth to healthier babies. Yet, presents a number of limitations to fitness routines that are critical to the health and safety of the mother and the developing fetus.According to Kevin Plancher, M.D., a leading NY-area orthopaedist, sports medicine expert and official orthopaedic surgeon of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams, expectant mothers are more encouraged than ever to participate in a wide range of physical activities. But along with the positive test can come restrictions on everything from seemingly safe exercises like yoga or walking to high-impact sports. "There are numerous added considerations that come into play when a woman becomes pregnant," Dr. Plancher explains, "and many of them are not obvious from a common-sense standpoint. That's why it's so important for active women to consult with their obstetricians or a sports medicine specialist about their fitness routines as soon as they learn they are pregnant."Common Routines Pose Certain Risks:Walking, jogging and running are popular forms of exercise for women of child-bearing age, and offer a relatively safe way to stay fit during pregnancy. However, Dr. Plancher says, "Women need to pay special attention to where they walk or run during pregnancy, because causes rapid shifts in a woman's center of gravity, which can lead to falls." He advises either using an indoor treadmill, or finding well-lit, established trails for outdoor walking, and avoiding rough terrain or high-traffic roadways. Dr. Plancher also warns about potential trauma to joints during pregnancy, adding, "The higher impact of jogging and running may put too much stress on the joints, which become more lax as a result of hormone surges during pregnancy. This, too, can lead to injury." The same can be said for high-impact aerobic routines, and for sports that require rapid changes in direction, such as tennis or volleyball.Even yoga and pilates, two forms of exercise known for their calming, low-impact effects, can pose a danger to mother and baby. "During pregnancy, particularly after the third month, women should avoid exercises done while lying flat on their backs," Dr. Plancher notes. "This is because the enlarging uterus can press on the major arteries of the body, reducing the blood supply to the placenta and to mom's lower extremities, which may put her at risk for developing thrombosis."With any fitness routine, expectant mothers must monitor their temperatures faithfully during exercise. "There is some evidence that an elevated maternal temperature of over 102 degrees Fahrenheit for even brief periods of time can lead to fetal distress," Dr. Plancher notes. This is one of the key reasons why swimming comes highly recommended as a good overall exercise for pregnant women. "It's low-impact, and it keeps the body cool," Dr. Plancher says, adding, "The natural buoyancy of the water supports mom's body and provides weight-bearing resistance, and it offers a nice cardiovascular workout." Dr. Plancher warns, however, that pregnant women should never jump or dive into the water.Off-Limits Fitness Routines:According to Dr. Plancher, there are certain fitness routines and sports that even the most experienced athletes should avoid while pregnant. "Even if you are an expert, the risk of injury is just so great that it supersedes the benefits," he says. They are:- Downhill Skiing: The speeds to which you'll accelerate can
spell disaster if you fall. And again, with the constant shift in your center of gravity, falls may be more likely than usual. What's more, the high altitude means there's less oxygen available for the developing fetus.- Horseback Riding: The possibility of a jarring fall off of a horse, compounded by the outside chance of being kicked or trampled if you do fall off, makes horseback riding ill-advised during pregnancy.- Scuba Diving: The pressure changes in deep water can negatively affect the fetus.- Baseball or Softball: The potential for being hit by a ball, either while at bat or on the field, render these sports better for watching than playing.- Contact Sports (football, hockey, etc.): There's a high risk of blunt trauma injury to the abdomen with these sports, and this can lead to the separation of the placenta from the uterine wall (known as placental abruption), or in rare cases, to uterine rupture.If You Are Injured:"Sports-related injuries during requires us to treat two patients – the mother and the fetus," Dr. Plancher explains. Special considerations come into play, from the risks associated with certain pain medications to the potential impact of X-ray and/or MRI radiation on the developing fetus. "These considerations can determine, for instance, whether certain surgeries should be performed immediately or delayed until after birth, or whether bedrest may be advised rather than pursuing a more aggressive treatment that would allow more mobility," Dr. Plancher explains. In concert with the obstetrician, a sports orthopaedist will consider the benefits and risks associated with each treatment option, in order to secure the best outcome for both patients.Bio:Kevin D. Plancher, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.S., F.A.A.O.S, is a leading orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine expert with extensive practice in knee, shoulder, elbow and hand injuries. Dr. Plancher is an Associate Clinical Professor in Orthopaedics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NY. He is on the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Journal of Medicine and Sports.A graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr.Plancher received an M.S. in Physiology and an M.D. from their school of medicine (cum laude). He did his residency at Harvard's combined Orthopaedic program and a Fellowship at the Steadman-Hawkins clinic in Vail, Colorado where he studied shoulder and knee reconstruction. Dr.Plancher continued his relationship with the Clinic for the next six years as a Consultant. Dr. Plancher has been a team physician for over 15 athletic teams, including high school, college and national championship teams. Dr.Plancher is an attending physician at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City and The Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT and has offices in Manhattan and Greenwich, Connecticut.Dr.Plancher lectures extensively domestically and internationally on issues related to Orthopaedic procedures and injury management. During 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 Dr.Plancher was named among the Top Doctors in the New York Metro area and was the New York State Representative for the Council of Delegates to the American Academy of Orthopaedic surgeons. For the past six years Dr.Plancher has received the Order of Merit (Magnum Cum Laude) for distinguished Philanthropy in the Advancement of Orthopaedic Surgery by the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation. In 2001, he founded "The Orthopaedic Foundation for Active Lifestyles", a non-profit foundation focused on maintaining and enhancing the physical well-being of active individuals through the development and promotion of research and supporting technologies. www.plancherortho.com..
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