In:
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 16, No. 7 ( 2021-7-28), p. e0255248-
Abstract:
Pregnancy profoundly affects cardiovascular and musculoskeletal performance requiring up to 12 months for recovery in healthy individuals. Objective To assess the effects of extending postpartum convalescence from 6 to 12 weeks on the physical fitness of Active Duty (AD) soldiers as measured by the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and Body Mass Index (BMI). Methods We conducted a retrospective study of AD soldiers who delivered their singleton pregnancy of ≥ 32weeks gestation at a tertiary medical center. Pre- and post-pregnancy APFT results as well as demographic, pregnancy, and postpartum data were collected. Changes in APFT raw scores, body composition measures, and failure rates across the 6-week and 12-week convalescent cohorts were assessed. Multivariable regressions were utilized to associate risk factors with failure. Results Four hundred sixty women met inclusion criteria; N = 358 in the 6 week cohort and N = 102 in the 12 week cohort. Demographic variables were similar between the cohorts. APFT failure rates across pregnancy increased more than 3-fold in both groups, but no significant differences were found between groups in the decrement of performance or weight gain. With the combined cohort, multivariable regression analysis showed failure on the postpartum APFT to be independently associated with failure on the pre-pregnancy APFT (OR = 16.92, 95% CI 4.96–57.77), failure on pre-pregnancy BMI (OR = 8.44, 95% CI 2.23–31.92), elevated BMI at 6–8 weeks postpartum (OR = 4.02, 95% CI 1.42–11.35) and not breastfeeding at 2 months (OR = 3.23, 95% CI 1.48–7.02). Within 36 months of delivery date, 75% of women had achieved pre-pregnancy levels of fitness. Conclusion An additional 6 weeks of convalescence did not adversely affect physical performance or BMI measures in AD Army women following pregnancy. Modifiable factors such as pre- and post-pregnancy conditioning and weight, weight gain in pregnancy and always breastfeeding were found to be significant in recovery of physical fitness postpartum.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1932-6203
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.t002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.t003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.t004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.t005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.r001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.r002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.r003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0255248.r004
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267670-3