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Objective: To evaluate the effect of a physical activity programme in the aquatic environment with immersion up to the neck, of six weeks duration, on haemodynamic constants in pregnant women., Methods: A six-week physical activity programme in the aquatic environment was carried out with a total of 46 pregnant women, who were distributed into an experimental group (n = 18), which participated in the programme, and a control group (n = 28), which followed routine care. In both groups different haemodynamic measurements were evaluated before and after the program., Results: At the beginning of the programme the mean systolic blood pressure was similar between groups, but diastolic blood pressure was slightly higher in the experimental group. When the measurements at the last session were compared, arterial pressures (systolic, diastolic and mean) were significantly higher in the control group (p <.050). Similarly, the initial plasma volume values did not differ between groups, but after the intervention, the control group women showed a higher mean (p <.010). The fraction of sodium excretion (FENa) increased significantly in the experimental group, after the programme, with a mean three times higher (p <.050). Aldosterone plasma levels did not show significant differences between the groups in the different measurements., Conclusion: A programme of swimming and immersion exercises in pregnant women contributes to hydrosaline balance, preventing an excessive increase in usual plasma volume during pregnancy and in the activity of the renin-aldosterone axis., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Moderate physical exercise brings benefits to pregnant women during pregnancy. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect on the quality of life of a six-week aquatic physical activity program in healthy pregnant women., Methods: A six-week physical activity program was conducted in the aquatic environment, from May to July 2016 in a sports center, to a total of 46 pregnant women, who were distributed in Experimental (n = 18) and Control (n = 28) groups, to which the health-related quality of life questionnaire SF-36 v2 was applied before and after the program. The t-student test for paired samples was statistically applied for intragroup means, and for the differences between groups, the t-student test for independent samples., Results: At the end of the physical activity program, it was clearly established that it acted positively on the following dimensions whose mean values were: perception of Body Pain (BP) before 66.1 and after 68.4 perception of General Health (GH) before 81.3 and then 83.6, Emotional Role (ER) before 89.0 and Then 93.5 and Mental Health (MH) 80.7 before and 84.2 after., Conclusions: The practice of a program of physical activity in the aquatic environment for pregnant women provides benefits related to the perception of health-related quality of life., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of a physical activity programme based on use of the Pilates method, over eight weeks in pregnant women, on functional parameters, such as weight, blood pressure, strength, flexibility and spinal curvature, and on labour parameters, such as, type of delivery, episiotomy, analgesia and newborn weight., Method: A randomized clinical trial was carried out on pregnant women, applying a programme of physical activity using the Pilates method, designed specifically for this population. A sample consisting of a total of 105 pregnant women was divided into two groups: intervention group (n=50) (32.87±4.46 years old) and control group (n=55) (31.52±4.95 years old). The intervention group followed a physical activity programme based on the Pilates method, for 2 weekly sessions, whereas the control group did not follow the program., Results: Significant improvements (p<0.05) in blood pressure, hand grip strength, hamstring flexibility and spinal curvature, in addition to improvements during labour, decreasing the number of Caesareans and obstructed labour, episiotomies, analgesia and the weight of the newborns were found at the end of the intervention., Conclusion: A physical activity programme of 8 weeks based on the Pilates method improves functional parameters in pregnant women and benefits delivery., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Over the last years, the use of accelerometers has become relevant to quantify physical activity among youth. Methods used with accelerometers might modify the results and the possibility to compare different papers. These devices have been proved to be effective and valid quantifying long periods of physical activity compared to other methods., Objective: To show methodological criteria regarding physical activity assessed by accelerometry with schoolars., Methodology: It was conducted a review of the literature related to accelerometers and scholar-aged subjects at PubMed from January 2002 to August 2013, selecting 133 papers., Results: As far as it is shown, it appears to be some tendencies related to the choice of attachment of the device, wearing time and a shorter epoch-length; however, it has been found a wide variability regarding the model of accelerometer and cutoff points used., Discussion and Conclusions: The different criterion used makes it difficult to compare methodological aspects among studies in spite of some papers carried out similar methods., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)