Aquanatal classes

midwifemissy · #1 (**permalink**) 06-Dec-2007, 23:40

I have to do some research for my next PBL trigger presentation on aquanatal classes, and to be honest I haven't a clue where to start

I was wondering if anyone could suggest the best way to find research based evidence/information for this please?

I have got a couple of books from the uni library, but they aren't that great and my time is very limited to do my search.

Thanks inn advance.

Pauline

TallPoppy · #2 (**permalink**) 07-Dec-2007, 16:16

Water aerobics reduces sick leave due to low back pain during pregnancy
JOGNN: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing , vol 35, no 4, July/August 2006, pp 465-471 Granath AB; Hellgren MSE; Gunnarsson RK - (2006)

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of a land-based, physical exercise program versus water aerobics on low back or pelvic pain and sick leave during pregnancy.

DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial.

SETTING: Three antenatal care centers.

PARTICIPANTS: 390 healthy pregnant women.

INTERVENTIONS: A land-based physical exercise program or water aerobic once a week during pregnancy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sick leave, pregnancy-related low back pain or pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, or both.

RESULTS: Water aerobics diminished pregnancy-related low back pain (p=.04) and sick leave due to pregnancy-related low back pain (p=.03) more than a land-based physical exercise program.

CONCLUSIONS: Water aerobics can be recommended for the treatment of low back pain during pregnancy. The benefits of a land-based physical exercise program are questionable and further evaluation is needed.

A pilot study on the effects of aquatic exercises on discomforts of pregnancy -

JOGNN: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing , vol 35, no 3, May/June 2006, pp 315-323 Smith SA; Michel Y - (2006)

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the impact of an aquatic exercise program on perception of body image, participation in health-promoting behaviors, barriers to health-promoting participation, level of physical discomfort, and mobility.

DESIGN: A two-group, quasi-experimental, pretest/posttest design.

SAMPLE AND SETTING: A convenience sample of 40 nonexercising pregnant women who were at least 19 weeks gestation were recruited. Sixty percent of the sample was African American. Participants self-selected assignment to either the exercise or nonexercise group. Both groups completed self-report measures and underwent a mobility assessment. The exercise group participated in a 60-minute, 6-week aquatic exercise program three sessions per week. The control group was instructed to continue their normal activities of daily living.

RESULTS: Women who had participated in the aquatic exercise program reported significantly less physical discomfort, improved mobility, and improved body image and health-promoting behaviors as compared to control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: Aquatic exercise during pregnancy may enhance physical functioning, decreasing maternal discomfort, improving maternal body image, and improving health-promoting behaviors.

An exploration of aquanatal exercise
British Journal of Midwifery , vol 11, no 4, April 2003, pp 218-222 Huber I - (April 2003)

Aquanatal exercise has been recommended for pregnant women for the beneficial effects of immersion, its joint protective character and its psychological benefits. This research, based in the North West of England, identified the professional backgrounds of those involved delivering sessions, considered training and experience via an examination of current working practices and additionally elicited the views of participants. Midwives, physiotherapists, exercise instructors and swimming instructors were interviewed while the participants answered a short questionnaire. All instructors interviewed considered aquanatal training to be inadequate. Midwifery attendance was seen as important, with instructors appearing to view it as an informal `insurance policy'. Aquanatal exercise would benefit from the setting up of a professional, multidisciplinary framework for agreed professional standards of training and development, professional guidelines and a register of qualified instructors. Maximizing interprofessional skills would benefit participants, the status and profile of the service and could help to facilitate further research.

midwifemissy · #3 (**permalink**) 07-Dec-2007, 19:29

Awww TallPoppy,

You are a star, thanks so much for that, I really appreciate your help

Pauline

tracyb · #4 (**permalink**) 07-Dec-2007, 22:11

Have you joined MIDIRS? the online searches are quick and easy to do however you can't get the articles from there-unless you purchase them, but you can save them all with abstracts, then use your uni athens to get alot of them for free that way, or use google scholar, thats a really good search engine aswell, sorry I haven't got any articles on it, around otherwise I'd PM them to you x

midwifemissy · #5 (**permalink**) 07-Dec-2007, 22:58

That's all good advice, thanks again Tracy, I am hopeless at searching for articles and research stuff. That is the main reason my concepts in health assignment is only just over 100 words long so far

I have joined MIDIRS, so I will look there.

Pauline