Effect of Aerobic Dance Exercise on Blood Pressure of Normotensive Pregnant Women Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, South East Nigeria Jovita Daniel A1,*, Venkateswarlu K2, Clifford Ezeugwu C3 1Ph. D Exercise and Sports Science, Department of Physiotherapy, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria 2Professor of Exercise Physiology, Department of Physical and Health, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria 3Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria *Corresponding author Jovita Ada Daniel (PhD). Department of Physiotherapy Federal Medical Centre, P.M.B. 1010 Owerri Imo State Nigeria, Tel: 234 8064 774 481 Email: dchrisjovys@yahoo.com
Online published on 28 September, 2015. Abstract Objective To determine whether moderate intensity exercise will have any effect on the blood pressure of pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Method Volunteers from population of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes through the routine screening exercise for pregnant women attending antenatal in the hospital were recruited for the study and were screened further, using Physical Activity Readiness Medical Examination (PARmed-X for pregnancy), for inclusion into the study. Those that met the inclusion criteria were randomized into Exercise Group (EG) and Control Group (CG). The Exercise group participated in 8 weeks of aerobic dance exercise programmed performed three times a week at moderate intensity, with each session lasting 45mins-60mins. The control did not participate in any organized exercise programme within the period of the study. Result Decrease in the blood pressure of the exercise group was observed as early as 4 weeks into the exercise programme (SBP, p =.004 and DBP, p =.001). At the end of the 8 weeks programme, the exercise group showed a significant reduction in the systolic blood pressure (p =.003), and in the diastolic blood pressure (p =.005) but within normal blood pressure range. Conclusion It was concluded that aerobic dance exercises could be used as non pharmacological means of preventing high blood pressure in pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Top Keywords Aerobic dance, blood pressure, pregnancy, gestational diabetes. Top |