Physical activity and cardiovascular risk in pregnancy. Version 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Can physical activity during pregnancy improve maternal and offspring vascular health?
IRAS ID
207068
Contact name
Nicola Hopkins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, months, days
Research summary
The project aims to assess heart health by measuring artery structure and function along with physical activity and sedentary behaviour across each trimester during healthy pregnancy in order to identify how arteries adapt to pregnancy and their associations with PA and SB. The project also aims to quantify the impact of a 24 week structured exercise intervention during trimesters 2 and 3 on artery health in previously sedentary women and their babies, quality of life and delivery outcomes will also be assessed. All participants will be required to attend the laboratory on 4 separate occasions coinciding with end-trimester time-points while the final visit will be a follow-up within 4 weeks of delivery. Laboratory assessments made will include blood vessel function and structure in the arm, leg and brain, fitness level, body fat percentage and habitual PA and SB with all measurements taken at Liverpool John Moores University. Exercise training will be partially supervised, with one session/week carried out under the supervision of the researcher at the dedicated gymnasium at Liverpool John Moores University, while 2 sessions/week will be completed at the participant’s most convenient Lifestyles Leisure Centre.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0056
Date of REC Opinion
3 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion