Quantitative assessment of physical activity in pregnant women with sonographic short cervix and the risk for preterm delivery: a prospective pilot study
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Bed rest or activity restriction is a common obstetrical practice, despite a paucity of data to support its efficacy. The aim of this study was to determine whether physical activity, as assessed by a smart band activity tracker, is associated with preterm birth in pregnant women at high risk for preterm delivery. METHODS: This was a pilot prospective cohort study including pregnant women at high risk for preterm delivery between 24 and 32 weeks-of-gestation. Physical activity level was assessed by smart band activity. Patients with sonographic short cervical length (≤ 20 mm) were asked to wear the smart band activity tracker continuously for at least one week, including one weekend. Both physicians and patients were blinded to the data stored in the smart band activity tracker. No specific recommendations were given to participants as to the level or intensity of physical activity. The primary outcome was the rate of preterm birth (< 37 weeks-of-gestation). Secondary outcomes included the rate of delivery before 34 weeks of gestation and neonatal outcome. Parametric and nonparametric statistics were used for analysis. RESULTS: Study population included 49 pregnant women: 37 women (75.7%) delivered preterm and 12 (24.5%) delivered at or after 37 weeks-of-gestation. The median steps per day was significantly lower in patients who delivered preterm (3576, IQR: 2478-4775 vs. 4554, IQR: 3632-6337, p = 0.02). Regression analysis revealed that the median number of steps per day was independently inversely associated with preterm birth, after adjustment for maternal age, body mass index, gestational age at recruitment, cervical length, cervical dilatation and plurality. CONCLUSION: This pilot study represents the first quantitative assessment of the association between physical activity and preterm birth. The results of this pilot study do not support the efficacy of decreased physical activity in the prevention of preterm birth in patients with sonographic short cervical length.
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In a small pilot study, median steps per day were significantly lower in women who delivered preterm, and regression analyses found an inverse association between median steps per day and preterm birth.
“The median number of steps per day was significantly lower in women who delivered preterm. In addition, regression analyses found an inverse association between the median number of steps per day and preterm birth.”
From Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Consult Series #50: The role of activity restriction in obstetric management (2020) · cites this paper as [22]
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- Authors
- Zemet, R., Schiff, E., Manovitch, Z., Cahan, T., Yoeli-Ullman, R., Brandt, B., Hendler, I., Dorfman-Margolis, L., Yinon, Y., Sivan, E., & Mazaki-Tovi, S.
- Affiliations
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- Venue
- PLoS ONE
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Published
- 2018-06-11
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- e0198949
- ISSN
- 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5995449
- OpenAlex
- W2808550086
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 1.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Talpiot Medical Leadership Program, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashmer (20751)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Keywords
- physical activity, preterm birth, short cervix, bed rest, wearable activity trackers, smart band, step count, cervical shortening, preterm birth prevention, high-risk pregnancy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cervix Uteri, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Pilot Projects, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, Ultrasonography, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Premature Birth
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