General obstetrics

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Dynamic postural stability in pregnant fallers and non-fallers

  1. JL McCrory1,2,
  2. AJ Chambers3,
  3. A Daftary4,
  4. MS Redfern3

Article first published online: 8 JUN 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02589.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 117, Issue 8, pages 954–962, July 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

McCrory, J., Chambers, A., Daftary, A. and Redfern, M. (2010), Dynamic postural stability in pregnant fallers and non-fallers. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 117: 954–962. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02589.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Division of Exercise Physiology, Department of Human Performance and Applied Exercise Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA

  2. 2

    Department of Health and Physical Activity

  3. 3

    Department of Bioengineering

  4. 4

    Department of Maternal–Fetal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

*Dr JL McCrory, Division of Exercise Physiology, Department of Human Performance and Applied Exercise Science, West Virginia University, Health Sciences Center South, Morgantown, WV, USA. Email jmccrory@hsc.wvu.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 8 JUN 2010
  2. Article first published online: 8 JUN 2010
  3. Accepted 8 April 2010.

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Keywords:

  • Balance;
  • centre of pressure;
  • exercise;
  • falls;
  • perturbation

Please cite this paper as: McCrory J, Chambers A, Daftary A, Redfern M. Dynamic postural stability in pregnant fallers and non-fallers. BJOG 2010;117:954–962.

Objective  To compare dynamic postural stability in pregnant women who have fallen during their pregnancies with those who have not, and with a group of non-pregnant women.

Design  The study was both longitudinal and cross-sectional. A cohort of pregnant women were followed through their second and third trimesters. A non-pregnant control group was used for comparison.

Setting  University-based laboratory.

Population  A total of 81 women (41 pregnant and 40 controls) participated. Twenty-nine pregnant women completed the protocol.

Methods  Data were collected on the pregnant women in the middle of their second and third trimesters. Pregnant women were surveyed about their daily activities, exercise participation, and fall history. Postural reaction time and centre of pressure (COP) movement data, in response to translational perturbations, were collected using a force plate. A mixed-model analysis of variants (ANOVA) was performed on each of the dependent variables (α = 0.05). Chi-square analysis was performed to determine if exercise participation altered the likelihood of a subject experiencing a fall (α = 0.05).

Main outcome measures  Reaction time, initial sway, total sway, and sway velocity.

Results  Fifty-two percent of our pregnant subjects experienced a fall. Initial sway response, total sway, and sway velocity were smaller in the pregnant fallers than in the non-fallers and control participants (P < 0.05). Thirty-one of the pregnant subjects participated in regular exercise. Sedentary pregnant women were more likely to experience a fall than those who exercised.

Conclusions  Dynamic balance is altered in pregnant women who have fallen compared with non-fallers and controls. Exercise may play a role in fall prevention in pregnant women.

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