Comparison of Static Postural Stability in Exercising and Non-Exercising Women During the Perinatal Period

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine whether women who exercised during and after pregnancy had better static postural stability compared to those who did not exercise. Material/Methods: Posturographic tests were performed in 31 women at 34–39 weeks gestation, and again at 6–10 weeks post-partum. The center of pressure mean velocity (with directional subcomponents) and sway area were comput-ed from 30-s quiet standing trials on a stationary force plate with eyes open or closed. The women were sur-veyed about their lifestyle and physical activity in the perinatal period. Based on the survey, 12 of the women were assigned as regular exercisers and 19 as non-exercisers. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare data of the exercisers and the non-exercisers in their advanced pregnancy and again at 2 months postpartum. Results: Postural sway measures were not significantly different between the exercisers and the non-exercisers in ad-vanced pregnancy and at 2 months postpartum (p>0.05). Conclusions: Individually performed physical activity during the perinatal period did not affect pregnant/postpartum wom