Physical activity and pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy: review of international recommendations

Abstract

Physical activity is associated with beneficial health effects for both mother and her future child, as well as the course of pregnancy. The aim of this review was the comparison of international guidelines with Polish recommendations. Data were collected from PubMed platform and international guidelines and narrowed to open access studies published between 1990–2023 in English, German and Polish. The existing literature shows an increase of interest in the impact of body activity during pregnancy and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). The recommendations move away from the more conservative approach, that previously suggested limitation of all exercise-related activities. Recently, The Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians and Polish Society of Sports Medicine announced a planned release of joint recommendations on physical activity during pregnancy and after childbirth, as well as the translation of the “Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy”, a screening tool for pregnant women, doctors and midwives, developed in accordance with the recommendations of international gynecological societies.