Relationship between Women's Competitive Sports Activity and Physical Functions during Pregnancy and Delivery -By the Method of Multivariate Statistical Analysis-
【Supercategory：7. DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Subcategory：7.9 Vol.9】
Women's competitive sports are becoming more popular but from the viewpoint of female health care, women's vigorous exercise and labor are not generally approved of in Japan. And the influences of hard sports and work on the physical functions of pregnancy and delivery are not fully understood. This study was carried out to clarify the relationship between participation in women's competitive sports and the course and result of pregnancy and childbirth. A questionnaire was designed and female teachers of physical education and healthy women who had had their babies during the past year were requested to cooperate in the survey. A total of 282 answers were analyzed statistically.
The results are summarized as follows;
1) By applying the third formula of quantification scaling to the grouping of sports experience, women could be classified into two groups. Group I consisted of those who participated in gymnastics and/or dance. Group II included women who participated in general sports (track and field, basketball, fencing, etc.) except gymnastics.
2) In evaluating the status and course during pregnancy, no significant differences were found between Group I and Group II.
3) By using the third formula of quantification scaling and cluster analysis, all the cases of delivery could be divided into three patterns: ① normal childbirth (delivery at term, cephalic presentation, no complications), ② abnormal childbirth (delivery pre-term, breech delivery, weak pains, etc.), ③ Caesarean section.
4) The rate of normal childbirth showed no relationship to competitive sports participation or to the kind of sports.
5) In female athletes who participated in such sports as those commonly participated in by men (Group II), no significant problems were observed in the course of delivery. On the other hand, those who participated in gymnastics (Group I) showed a tendency to have some problems (higher Caesarean section rate) during the course of delivery.
6) Gymnastics and dance are both characterized by the physical expression of gracefulness and are considered to be suitable as exercises for young women. However, it is suggested that the somatotypes required for gymnastics include some factors which are disadvantageous for childbirth.
DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.9/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE
The results are summarized as follows;
1) By applying the third formula of quantification scaling to the grouping of sports experience, women could be classified into two groups. Group I consisted of those who participated in gymnastics and/or dance. Group II included women who participated in general sports (track and field, basketball, fencing, etc.) except gymnastics.
2) In evaluating the status and course during pregnancy, no significant differences were found between Group I and Group II.
3) By using the third formula of quantification scaling and cluster analysis, all the cases of delivery could be divided into three patterns: ① normal childbirth (delivery at term, cephalic presentation, no complications), ② abnormal childbirth (delivery pre-term, breech delivery, weak pains, etc.), ③ Caesarean section.
4) The rate of normal childbirth showed no relationship to competitive sports participation or to the kind of sports.
5) In female athletes who participated in such sports as those commonly participated in by men (Group II), no significant problems were observed in the course of delivery. On the other hand, those who participated in gymnastics (Group I) showed a tendency to have some problems (higher Caesarean section rate) during the course of delivery.
6) Gymnastics and dance are both characterized by the physical expression of gracefulness and are considered to be suitable as exercises for young women. However, it is suggested that the somatotypes required for gymnastics include some factors which are disadvantageous for childbirth.
DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.9/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE
| Researcher | Hiroko Iwata*1, Takeyoshi Kubota*2 |
|---|---|
| University or institution | *1 Faculty of Letters and Education Ochanomizu University, *2 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Juntendo Urayasu Hospital Juntendo University |
Keywords
competitive sports, female health care, pregnancy, childbirth