Exercise during pregnancy: increased oxygen uptake and metabolic demand
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We measured metabolic equivalents (METs) of prenatal aerobic exercise with indirect calorimetry at light and moderate intensities, then compared with estimates from common equations. Our findings indicate higher oxygen uptake and METs across all trimesters of pregnancy during walk and cycle exercise. We further show an increase in RPE at the same work rate in the second and third trimesters. We conclude that higher metabolic demand must be accounted for in prenatal exercise prescriptions.
Source: Journal of Applied Physiology
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7204109963