Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42897929›Full record

ReviewPhysiological reports2026

Exercise in pregnant elite athletes: Physiological considerations, risks, and benefits.

Ibelle Madera, Vedanti Bhargava, Jhillika Patel, Kritika Singh, Opal Jawale, Gloria Bachmann

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Physiological reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ibelle MaderaJohns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Vedanti BhargavaJohns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Jhillika PatelWomen's Health Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4811-7211
Kritika SinghJohns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Opal JawaleJohns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Gloria BachmannJohns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends engagement in moderate exercise throughout pregnancy, including aerobic and strengthening activities, which has been shown to offer numerous benefits during pregnancy. However, the intersection of pregnancy and athletics presents a unique set of challenges. ACOG guidelines on exercise during pregnancy primarily target recreational exercisers. Tailored recommendations are needed for pregnant elite athletes. This study examines both how pregnancy affects physiology and the risks/benefits of high-intensity exercise. Two independent reviews were conducted, using MESH search terms including "pregnant athletes," "female elite athlete," "maternal health," "exercise pregnancy." From 56 total studies, 40 studies with clinical data on over 4163 women, including elite athletes, were included in the review. Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve cardiovascular fitness and fetal vascular function while reducing risks of gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, delivering a large-for-gestational-age infant, and excessive weight gain. High-intensity activities can compromise fetal blood flow. Endurance athletes may safely maintain their training regimens during pregnancy, whereas those in high-altitude or contact sports require adjustments. Routine, non-intense exercise during pregnancy offers significant maternal and fetal health benefits. Future work should establish individualized recommendations supporting pregnant elite athlete health.

Indexed as

AthletesExerciseFemaleHumansPregnancyfetal healthmaternal healthphysical exercisepregnancysports

Identifiers

PMID42897929
PMCPMC13680865

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.