Exercise Program After High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for women 3 to 6 months after giving birth who had high blood pressure or preeclampsia in pregnancy. It tests an 8-week exercise program.

Age

Over 18 years old

Sex

Women only

Disease stage

Diagnosed during pregnancy with gestational hypertension (BP higher than 139/89 mmHg after 20 gestational weeks) or preeclampsia (BP higher than 139/89 mmHg and proteinuria after 20 gestational weeks). Now 3 to 6 months postpartum.

Earlier treatment

Cannot have taken blood pressure drugs before pregnancy or after 6 weeks postpartum. Cannot have taken beta-blockers. Cannot have exercised regularly before 3 months postpartum (more than 2 hours of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week).

Main reasons for not taking part

• Chronic (pre-existing) high blood pressure
• Taking beta-blockers for any reason
• Regular exercise before 3 months postpartum (more than 2 hours of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week)
• Musculoskeletal injury that limits or rules out exercise
• Major reasons not to exercise, such as cardiomyopathy, heart rhythm problems or congenital heart disease

The registry criteria, word for word

What the trial wants to find out

Some women who develop high blood pressure during pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, may continue to have slightly or moderately high blood pressure after giving birth. This can increase their risk of heart disease later in life. Managing blood pressure and adopting a healthy lifestyle after pregnancy could help lower this risk.

The 2 groups in the trial

• Rehabilitation GroupTreatment being tested

  The rehabilitation Group will be submitted to an 8-week exercise and education program with a hybrid format, delivered by a professional physiotherapist at the Centre Jean-Jacques Gauthier (CJJG). Briefly, one in-person session (60 minutes of aerobic exercise and full-body strength exercise), one online session (30-35 minutes - focus on pelvic floor muscle training, core/abdominals, balance, and stretching exercises), and one pre-recorded video (30 minutes - exercise instructions) will be delivered per week. Participants will use Fitbit Charge-6 to progressively reach daily 10,000 steps throughout the intervention period. Four online educational workshops on healthy lifestyle will be delivered.

  Treatment: Postpartum Cardio-obstetric Rehabilitation Program

• Control groupNo study treatment, for comparison

  Control group participants will received the usual care, together with information about the guidelines for physical activity practice, nutritional and risk factor monitoring instructions, pelvic floor exercise instructions, and recommendations to progressively reach daily 10,000 steps according to guidelines . Participants will also receive a Fitbit device.