Breaking boundaries: A chronology with future directions of women in exercise physiology research, centred on pregnancy
Historically, females were excluded from clinical research due to their reproductive roles, hindering medical understanding and healthcare quality. Despite guidelines promoting equal participation, females are underrepresented in exercise science, perpetuating misconceptions about female physiology....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Advanced Exercise and Health Science |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950273X24000262 |
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| author | Abbey E. Corson Meaghan MacDonald Velislava Tzaneva Chris M. Edwards Kristi B. Adamo |
| author_facet | Abbey E. Corson Meaghan MacDonald Velislava Tzaneva Chris M. Edwards Kristi B. Adamo |
| author_sort | Abbey E. Corson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Historically, females were excluded from clinical research due to their reproductive roles, hindering medical understanding and healthcare quality. Despite guidelines promoting equal participation, females are underrepresented in exercise science, perpetuating misconceptions about female physiology. Even less attention has been given to exercise in the pregnant population. Research on pregnancy and exercise has evolved considerably from the initial bedrest prescriptions but concerns about exercise risks during pregnancy persisted for many decades. Recent guidelines endorse moderate-intensity physical activity during pregnancy, supported by considerable evidence of its safety and benefits. Mental health during pregnancy, often overlooked, is gaining traction, with exercise showing promise in reducing depression and anxiety. While pregnancy guidelines recommend moderate-intensity physical activity, there remains limited understanding of optimal frequency, intensity, type and time (duration) for extremes like elite athletes or those with complications. Female participation in elite sport and physically demanding jobs is rising, yet research on their specific needs is lacking. Traditional practices like bed rest for high-risk pregnancies are being questioned, as evidence suggests it may not improve outcomes. Tangible neglect of gestational parents in research perpetuated stereotypes of female frailty, though recent years have seen a shift towards recognizing the benefits of an active pregnancy. Closing knowledge gaps and inclusivity in research are crucial for ensuring guidelines reflect the diverse needs of gestational parents. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize the evolution of exercise physiology and pregnancy research along with future directions for this novel field. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-12aaf2dedfa048179cd3cdfc55188c02 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2950-273X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advanced Exercise and Health Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-12aaf2dedfa048179cd3cdfc55188c022025-08-20T02:33:32ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Advanced Exercise and Health Science2950-273X2024-06-0112677510.1016/j.aehs.2024.04.001Breaking boundaries: A chronology with future directions of women in exercise physiology research, centred on pregnancyAbbey E. Corson0Meaghan MacDonald1Velislava Tzaneva2Chris M. Edwards3Kristi B. Adamo4School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CanadaSchool of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CanadaSchool of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CanadaSchool of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CanadaSchool of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ottawa, Canada; Corresponding author at: School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.Historically, females were excluded from clinical research due to their reproductive roles, hindering medical understanding and healthcare quality. Despite guidelines promoting equal participation, females are underrepresented in exercise science, perpetuating misconceptions about female physiology. Even less attention has been given to exercise in the pregnant population. Research on pregnancy and exercise has evolved considerably from the initial bedrest prescriptions but concerns about exercise risks during pregnancy persisted for many decades. Recent guidelines endorse moderate-intensity physical activity during pregnancy, supported by considerable evidence of its safety and benefits. Mental health during pregnancy, often overlooked, is gaining traction, with exercise showing promise in reducing depression and anxiety. While pregnancy guidelines recommend moderate-intensity physical activity, there remains limited understanding of optimal frequency, intensity, type and time (duration) for extremes like elite athletes or those with complications. Female participation in elite sport and physically demanding jobs is rising, yet research on their specific needs is lacking. Traditional practices like bed rest for high-risk pregnancies are being questioned, as evidence suggests it may not improve outcomes. Tangible neglect of gestational parents in research perpetuated stereotypes of female frailty, though recent years have seen a shift towards recognizing the benefits of an active pregnancy. Closing knowledge gaps and inclusivity in research are crucial for ensuring guidelines reflect the diverse needs of gestational parents. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize the evolution of exercise physiology and pregnancy research along with future directions for this novel field.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950273X24000262PregnancyExercise physiologyHistory of physical activity across gestation |
| spellingShingle | Abbey E. Corson Meaghan MacDonald Velislava Tzaneva Chris M. Edwards Kristi B. Adamo Breaking boundaries: A chronology with future directions of women in exercise physiology research, centred on pregnancy Advanced Exercise and Health Science Pregnancy Exercise physiology History of physical activity across gestation |
| title | Breaking boundaries: A chronology with future directions of women in exercise physiology research, centred on pregnancy |
| title_full | Breaking boundaries: A chronology with future directions of women in exercise physiology research, centred on pregnancy |
| title_fullStr | Breaking boundaries: A chronology with future directions of women in exercise physiology research, centred on pregnancy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breaking boundaries: A chronology with future directions of women in exercise physiology research, centred on pregnancy |
| title_short | Breaking boundaries: A chronology with future directions of women in exercise physiology research, centred on pregnancy |
| title_sort | breaking boundaries a chronology with future directions of women in exercise physiology research centred on pregnancy |
| topic | Pregnancy Exercise physiology History of physical activity across gestation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950273X24000262 |
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