Physical Activity during Pregnancy: Recommendations and Assessment Tools

Abstract

The literature that supports and recommends the practice of exercise during pregnancy is extensive.However, although a more complete research on ways to evaluate the physical activity performed by pregnant women has been perfomed, it is found that there is no gold standard and that the articles in the area are inconclusive. Thus, the objective of the present article is to review relevant aspects, such as, technique and applicability of the different methods for the assessment of physical activity during pregnancy to provide more reliable and safe information for health professionals to encourage their pregnant patients to engage in the practice of physical activity. This review concluded that all tools for the analysis of physical activity have limitations. Thus, it is necessary to establish the objectives of evaluation in an appropriate manner, as well as to determine their viability and cost-effectiveness for the population under study.

 

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Resumo

A literatura que apoia e recomenda a prática do exercício durante a gravidez é extensa. Apesar disso, embora tenha sido feita uma pesquisa mais completa sobre as formas de avaliar a atividade física realizada por mulheres grávidas, verifica-se que não há padrão ouro, e que os artigos na área são inconclusivos. Assim, o objetivo do presente artigo é revisar aspectos relevantes, como a técnica e a aplicabilidade dos diferentes métodos de avaliação da atividade física durante a gestação, a fim de fornecer aos profissionais de saúde informações mais confiáveis e seguras para encorajar as pacientes grávidas à prática de atividade física. Esta revisão concluiu que todas as ferramentas para a análise da atividade física têm limitações. Assim, é necessário estabelecer os objetivos da avaliação de forma adequada, bem como determinar a sua viabilidade e custo-efetividade para a população em estudo.

 

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Keywords

physical exercise questionnaire - physical activity - evaluation - pregnancy

Palavras-chave

questionário de exercício físico - atividade física - avaliação - gravidez

Introduction

The benefits of physical exercise during pregnancy for both mother and fetus have been reported in the literature.[1] [2] However, a reduction of physical activity is frequently observed during this period in the life of a woman, motivated by both popular beliefs in the contraindication of its practice and by the interference of factors such as age, ethnicity, schooling and socioeconomic level.[3] [4]

This review will describe the main tools available to assess the level of physical activity for pregnant women and thus, it can contribute to greater confidence of health professionals in recommending the practice of physical activity to their patients.

Background Considerations

Some concepts need to be established for an appropriate understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological basis of the use of parameters for the assessment of physical activity during pregnancy, as indicated below.

• Physical activity can be defined as any body movement produced by the contraction of skeletal muscles.[5]

• Physical exercise is defined as physical activity consisting of the execution of planned, structured and repetitive body movements with the objective of improving physical fitness.[5]

• Sport can be defined as “an institutionalized competitive activity involving vigorous physical effort or the use of relatively complex motor skills.”[6]

 

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Types

Several types of physical exercises can be practiced by pregnant women, although, in general, they are divided into three major categories: aerobic exercises aiming at gaining strength and involving more expressive cardiovascular adaptations, resistance exercises mainly performed to obtain muscle hypertrophy and strength, and stretching exercises that cause an increased muscle fiber size, thus improving flexibility.[2] Within aerobic exercises, bicycle ergometer pedaling, swimming, dancing, using an arm ergometer, walking, and climbing stairs are the modalities more commonly practiced during pregnancy. Regarding resistance exercises, resistance can be offered with weights, elastic tapes, springs, or manual resistance.[7]

 

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Benefits

In general, regular exercise has been shown to improve conditioning, to reduce the muscle skeletal complaints habitually related to pregnancy, to provide well-being, to improve body image, and to reduce maternal weight gain. In addition, regular physical activity during pregnancy improves or maintains physical conditioning, helps control weight gain and provides psychological well-being.[8]

Depending on its type, frequency and intensity, the practice of physical exercise during pregnancy can also improve cardiovascular function by reducing heart rate and blood pressure, even with increased volume and cardiac output both during rest and during exercise itself.[9] Additional advantages are improved pulmonary function with an increase in peak flow, reduction of the anaerobic threshold and, improved oxygen uptake (O₂);[10] reduced risk of developing gestational diabetes due to the increase in insulin affinity for its cell receptor with a consequent decrease in insulin resistance;[11] a lower risk of developing gestational hypertension and preeclampsia;[1] [12] a lower weight gain and a reduced risk of obesity;[13] improved muscle conditioning due to both strength gain and improved flexibility;[2] increased sensation of well-being; reduction of anxiety; improved self-esteem; reduced risk of depression;[13] improved quality of sleep, greater disposition throughout the day, increased motivation to exercise; improvement of physical discomfort that may occur during pregnancy; prevention and reduction of low back pain; reduction of edema in the extremities.[2] In addition, there are reports of an equilibrated increase in fetal growth,[14] a reduced duration of labor, a lower necessity of cesarean delivery, a lower incidence of obstetrical complications,[15] a lower risk of preterm delivery,[3] and a lower risk of neonatal complications.[13]

 

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Risks and Contraindications

As postulated by the American College of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Canadian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the risks of practicing moderate physical activity during pregnancy are minimal, involving neither maternal injuries, nor fetal growth or development. In addition, exercise does not interfere with lactation when practiced during the puerperal period.[8] [16] Thus, sedentary pregnant women with no gestational complications should be encouraged to practice physical activity to maintain a healthy life.[16]

Starting from the second trimester of pregnancy, some precautions should be taken during the practice of physical activity. It is recommended to avoid the supine position during the exercises, since it may cause difficulties in venous return with a consequent decrease of cardiac output and an increased risk of orthostatic hypotension.[8]

The situations that can determine the discontinuation of physical activity are vaginal bleeding, resting dyspnea, dizziness, headache, precordial pain, calf swelling, and muscle weakness affecting equilibrium.[8]

Contraindications considered to be relative are: severe anemia, maternal cardiac arrhythmia that is not monitored, heart disease with hemodynamic repercussions, asthma, restrictive lung disease, decompensated type 1 diabetes, morbid obesity, severe malnutrition (BMI below 12 kg/m²), an extremely sedentary lifestyle, intrauterine growth restriction, orthopedic limitation, severe smoking, and uncontrolled hypothyroidism, nephropathy, unconscious hypoglycemia, and neuropathic dysautonomia.[8] [17] [18]

There are also obstetric situations that are considered absolute contraindication of physical exercise such as: isthmocervical incompetence, cerclage, multiple gestation pregnancy with risk of preterm delivery, persistent bleeding in the second and third trimesters, placenta previa before 26 weeks of gestational age, preterm labor during the current pregnancy, premature chorioamniorhexis and, hypertensive syndromes of pregnancy.[8] [18]

 

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Recommendations about the Practice of Physical Activity during Pregnancy

Most women benefit from the practice of physical activity, with few risks when practicing it during the various phases of life. During a gravidic cycle of habitual risk, that is, not associated with clinical or obstetrical complications, women should be stimulated to pratice aerobic and muscle strengthening exercises. A complete clinical evaluation is necessary for the recommendation of a program of physical exercises and its implementation to guarantee that the patient does not present any contraindications.[8]

Current recommendations regarding the practice of physical activity are based on the norms of the American College of Sports Medicine, which state that physical activity should be performed for at least 30 minutes daily at moderate intensity, preferably 5 times a week or for a total of 150 minutes per week, avoiding more than 2 consecutive days without physical activity.[17] [19] [20] It is also indicated the combination of aerobic physical activity with resistance physical activity, at least twice a week, with the execution of at least five exercises involving large muscle groups in each session.[20]

During a pregnancy considered to be of habitual risk, the activities listed here are considered to be safe for initiation or continuation, with the need of adaptation in some modalities due to the physiological changes occurring during this period and to the fetal necessities: walking, swimming, stationary bike, aerobic activities of low impact, modified yoga and pilates (avoiding positions that result in decreased venous return and hypotension), racquet sports (avoiding very rapid movements that might affect equilibrium, thus increasing the risk of falls), running and resistance training for women who were already practicing these activities before they became pregnant and who are under medical monitoring.[8]

On the other hand, the following activities should be avoided during the gestational period: contact sports such as ice hockey, boxing, soccer and basketball, activities involving a high risk of falls such as water skiing, surfing, cycling, horse riding, diving and sky diving, hot yoga or hot pilates.[8]

Among the main fundamentals of physical activity during pregnancy, it is important to point out that:[21] women who did not exercise routinely before pregnancy should start with no more than 15 minutes of continuous exercise 3 times a week, gradually increasing the daily sessions to 30 minutes; women who did exercise routinely before pregnancy can maintain their exercise routine without the occurrence of adverse effects; recreational exercises such as swimming or fast walking and exercises for the conditioning of muscle strength are safe and beneficial; the objective of recreational exercise is to keep in shape and not to increase physical fitness.

 

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Methods for the Assessment of Physical Activity

Indirect Methods: Self-report Instruments

With their good acceptability and practicality, questionnaires are one of the subjective forms of assessments most frequently used in epidemiological studies.[22] This concept is applicable to the analysis of the impact of physical activity on the pre-conceptional, gestational and puerperal periods, permitting data collection in large samples by means of this tool.

For these reasons, most of the studies designed to identify the predictors of participation in physical activities during pregnancy are based on self-reported assessment. Since these studies are used to elaborate interventions that can be planned to increase physical activity during or before pregnancy, it is fundamental that the conclusions reached be valid and reliable.[23]

The disadvantages of questionnaires are that they involve subjective measures of low reliability since they may overestimate the levels of physical activity compared with objective measures such as those obtained with an accelerometer or pedometer.[24] [25]

The adoption of the system elaborated by Sternfeld and Goldman-Rosas (2012),[26] consisting of the 10 questions listed below, can be of help in the choice of the instrument for the assessment of physical activity that best satisfies the objectives of the examiner: what is the primary objective of the study or program?; what is the design of the study?; what are the hypotheses of the study?; what is the physical activity or sedentary behavior to be measured?; which domains of physical activity need to be measured?; which parameters of physical activity or sedentary behavior need to be assessed?; should nonspecific physical activities be assessed or can they be categorized?; what is the summary measure desired of physical activity or sedentary behavior?; which is the target public?; what are the important logistic constraints?

To assess physical activity among pregnant women it is necessary to use a questionnaire validated for this phase of a woman's life, since the instruments elaborated for non-pregnant women or for men may be less sensitive to differences in the levels of activity among pregnant women. These questionnaires may include activities that cannot be adapted to the gravidic period or may omit low intensity activities, at times inappropriately classifying pregnant women as sedentary rather than active.[27]

Since women spend more time on occupational activity and household and family care tasks and, less time on leisure or conditioning activities, to dimension the physical activity of women in an objective manner it is necessary to use an assessing instrument that contains such activities.[28]

• Physical Activity Readiness Medical Examination (PARMed-X)

This instrument is part of a program for pregnant women developed by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology and validated by using peak oxygen consumption.[29]

This tool classifies recreational physical activity into different levels according to its intensity, frequency and duration ([Table 1]). Individuals who practice physical activity at a frequency of less than once or twice a week and for a period of time of less than 20 minutes have a zero index of physical activity and therefore, are considered to be unfit. Those who practice physical activity once to twice a week for 20 minutes, or more than twice a week for less than 20 minutes have a physical activity index of one and are considered to be active. Finally, individuals who perform physical activity more than twice a week for more than 20 minutes are considered to be fit and have a physical activity index of two.

Table 1 Classification into recreational physical activity levels according to the physical activity readiness medical examination (PARMed-X)[29]

Levels of recreational physical activity	Physical activity index	Frequency (times/week)	Time (minutes)
Unfit	0	< 1 - 2	< 20
Active	1	1 - 2	= 20
	1	> 2	< 20
Fit	2	> 2	> 20

Advantage - it permits the classification of recreational physical activity, which serves as a parameter for the recommended prescription of physical activity.

Disadvantages - difficult validation, since the cost of the measurement of oxygen consumption (VO2) limits its practice in small centers and in places without the appropriate structure; limited applicability to populations with a low index of recreational activity and, there are few reports about this instrument in the literature, requiring the need of more studies for the analysis of its applicability.

• Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ)

In view of the need for an instrument that could be applied to pregnant women, in 2004, Chasan-Taber et al[30] elaborated and validated for the English language a short, easily understood and self-administered questionnaire denoted Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ), which intended to assess the level of physical activity specifically in pregnant women. The PPAQ was first elaborated to become an instrument of worldwide applicability that would determine the practice of physical activity in populations of pregnant women.[30] This instrument is an adaptation to the population of pregnant women of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization.[31]

The activities selected for the PPAQ permit the establishment of the relationship between type of physical activity and energy expenditure (EE) for each participant. This approach prioritizes the ability of the questionnaire to classify the subjects into activity quartiles in a correct manner, in addition to eliminating the need for unnecessarily long instruments.[27] The PPAQ proposes the measurement of the level of physical activity during the participation of a subject in 33 activities ([Table 2]).

Table 2 Types of activity and number of questions per item of the pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ)

Type of activity	Number of questions
Household chores/care	12
Occupational activities	5
Exercise/sports	9
Transportation/displacement	3
Inactivity/sedentarism	4

As response options, the PPAQ proposes a time scale in relation to the daily situations questioned: none, less than 30 minutes per day, 30 minutes to 1 hour per day, 1 to 2 hours per day, 2 to 3 hours per day, 3 hours or more per day.

According to the recording of type of physical activity, intensity, duration, frequency and, consequently, metabolic equivalent (MET) rate, each woman is classified in terms of practice of physical activity into one of four categories during the last trimester ([Table 3]).[30]

Table 3 Classification into groups according to exercise intensity and its correspondence to metabolic equivalents (METs)

Classification	Correspondence to METs
Sedentary	< 1.5
Mild	1.5 to < 3.0
Moderate	3.0 - 6.0
Vigorous	> 6.0

There are smaller versions of this questionnaire with a smaller number of questions taking into consideration the reality of the population to which it is administered.[32]

Advantages - it takes into account small activities that are important for EE but that are usually neglected;[30] it was translated and validated for various countries;[30] [33] [34] this questionnaire has been found to be reliable for the measurement of physical activity in pregnant women with different intensities of obesity and can be used as a tool to detail physical activity.[35]

Disadvantages - the questionnaire is imprecise regarding self-reported physical activity, a fact that may generate inflated estimates of its validity.[27]

• Kaiser Physical Activity Survey (KPAS)

This is a questionnaire based on the Baecke et al[36] physical activity research and was specifically projected for the assessment of physical activity in women.

This instrument evaluates the multiple domains of physical activity (domestic activity/caregiver, occupational, active life and sports/exercises) and, although similar to the PPAQ in structure, its objective is to measure the types of physical activity performed by women and not their EE or their level of physical activity. The KPAS provides an encompassing assessment of each activity domain, and can be more useful for studies in which physical activity is the primary outcome.[27] The questions of the KPAS are grouped into four blocks, as can be seen in [Table 4].[27]

Table 4 List of specific activities assessed by the Kaiser Physical Activity Survey[27]

Block	Type of activity	Number of items
1) Household chores/ family care	House cleaning, shopping, gardening, care of elderly persons and children, construction work.	11
2) Occupational activities	working activities in the sitting and standing positions, walking while carrying weights, efforts that cause transpiration.	11
3) Life habits	Watching television, riding a bicycle or walking to go to work or to school.	4
4) Participation in sports and exercises	The frequency and duration of up to three sports or exercises performed periodically are included.	15

Activity indices are calculated for each activity domain by adding the specific categorical responses and dividing their sum by the number of items, with mean values ranging from one to five.

Advantages - the KPAS investigates a larger number of activities than the PPAQ.[27]

Disadvantages - the data do not reflect expenditure in MET, impairing their comparison to other questionnaires;[27] few studies are available about the use of this questionnaire for pregnant women.[37]

 

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Objective Measures

Several movement sensors have been developed to measure in a more objective manner the physical activity performed during a determined period of time.[38] The applicability of these tools at assistance centers is impaired by the fact that they need training to be used, and proximity of the patient for data collection, with a higher cost compared with questionnaires.[24]

Other measures of objective assessment are calorimetry, physiological markers, and direct observation and monitoring of heart rate parameters.[24] These devices can be used as instruments for the validation of the reports of the subjects investigated.[24] [39]

Each direct measure has its own limitation and there is no “gold standard” for the determination of physical activity.[24] [40] The choice of the tool to be used depends on a series of factors such as the specific element of physical activity that is interested in measuring, the necessary precision of the measurement, the target population of interest, and the cost and logistic of the measurements.[39]

• Pedometer/Step counter

This is a small device of low cost that can be used attached to the clothes of the person on the hip or at any other convenient site to count each step of the individual along the day.[41] [42] The first commercial versions of the device were based on gear-driven mechanical technology and were produced to measure the distance covered, although with low precision.[43] Pedometers with microelectromechanical systems, whose data are processed by an algorithm, are available today. The device has a horizontal pendulum with a spring lever that moves up and down with vertical accelerations to measure the total number of steps. When the arm of the lever is shifted above a given threshold it determines an electric contact with a sensor that records the step.[39] [44]

Pedometers first became available as self-monitoring tools for the promotion of a life style directed at the practice of physical activity. Pedometers provide a valuable response regarding the steps taken, the distance covered, the time spent in the activity, and an estimate of EE.[42] [45]

This device provides the rate of steps/day as a standard measure for the assessment of physical activity, facilitating its direct comparison in different studies.[25] [46] Thus, it is being used as a measuring tool by athletes in physical conditioning training programs.[47] [48] [49] The pedometer has also been included as a component of broader health promotion programs, which also associates other strategies such as activities based on the characteristics of the population, physical exams for health control and healthier dietary proposals.[42] The use of this device in these programs is based on the fact that the visual response of cumulative step count is immediate, leading to an increased perception on the part of an individual of how his behavior affects his physical activity. It is indicated as a self-monitoring mechanism as part of a goal setting process, in addition to providing minute-to-minute information and thus helping to fulfill the objectives of physical activity.[45]

Advantages - characteristics of motivation end encouragement of physical activity since it shows the number of steps taken by a person;[46] [50] [51] in adults, it is possible to correlate the increase of 2000 steps/day with the reduction of body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure.[41]

Disadvantages - inability to provide estimates of moderate to vigorous physical activity;[25] presence of a substantial error in predicting EE in MET;[46] the prescription of physical activity to young people is compromised since the device does not provide information about the intensity of physical activity;[45] impossibility to record activities that do not involve walking;[45] inability to measure non-ambulatory activities, posture or EE and dependence on specific algorithms for the determination of number of steps and, precision is compromised in slow walking (less than 2 rpm).[52]

• Accelerometer

The accelerometer is a device to be attached to the hip, calves or wrists that permits to monitor the frequency, intensity and duration of the episodes of physical activity by means of direct measurements of body accelerations and decelerations.[53] [54] Some types of accelerometers present sensitivity of movement detection on different planes, although most of them are uniaxial, that is, they are sensitive to movement only on the vertical axis. Even accelerometers that are sensitive to acceleration on the anteroposterior and/or lateral plane (biaxial or triaxial) have sensors that are more sensitive to movement on the vertical plane, thus being fundamentally uniaxial.[55] [56]

They have a microelectromechanical system that can record gravitational accelerations, which can be calibrated and converted to measurements of oxygen consumption.[39] Laboratory investigations have established a linear relationship between the measurements recorded by the accelerometer and the O2 volume consumed (VO2). This permits to relate these data to EE during locomotion and to develop equations for the prediction of MET level and, consequently to determine the classification of the intensity of physical activity into mild, moderate, strong or vigorous.[38] [43]

The most diffuse accelerometer is the Actigraph, followed by the Tracmor.[55] After the first version of the Actigraph, more than 15 different regression equations were developed to estimate EE.[38] [54] [57] In general, the regression equations developed to record if a person is standing still or is moving may slightly overestimate the EE of locomotion and of light exercise while greatly underestimating the EE of activities of moderate intensity. In contrast, regression equations developed by using daily life activities of moderate intensity provide more precise estimates of EE for this type of activity, although they may considerably overestimate the EE of sedentary persons and of light activities and underestimate that of vigorous activities.[58]

Advantages - axial and triaxial monitors can record physical activity for long periods of time;[59] an excellent method for the measurement of daily life activity of pregnant women, such as household chores and child care, also avoiding the problem of counting twice chores that are performed simultaneously.[60]

Disadvantages - there is no standard measurement, impairing the comparison of different studies; the algorithms used are very specific; low sensitivity for physical activities of light intensity or sedentary, inability to differentiate between activities and to measure non-ambulatory activities such as bicycle riding or weight lifting;[59] technique artifacts may occur in pregnant women due to variation in the positioning of the device according to abdominal size and stomach position in each phase of pregnancy;[27] the cut-off points needed to calibrate the data of the accelerometer according to specific categories of intensity (light, moderate, strong, and vigorous) have not been calculated for pregnant women.[23]

• Frequency meter

This is a light device that can be used to estimate the physical activity's EE (PAEE) on the basis of the linear relationship between heart rate (HR) and EE.[61] The validity and reliability of the frequency meter have not been well determined.[62] [63]

The frequency meter is a device consisting of a transducer associated with a data acquisition system placed on the abdominal or wrist region. The sensor system captures, digitizes and stores the HR signal on a full time basis, and calculates the mean for each pre-programmed time range (usually 5 to 15 seconds). Some monitors can store the interbeat interval (IIB series) for several hours, permitting the calculation of instantaneous HR variability.[34] Heart rate monitoring is an effective objective method used to monitor the intensity, duration and frequency of daily activities using a physiological parameter that detects the cardiovascular adaptation to exercise and estimates energy expenditure.[34] [63]

Advantages - the device can measure non-ambulatory activities.[34]

Disadvantages - Heart rate is a poor predictor of EE in the low-intensity range of physical activity and the technique requires calibration of the frequency meter for each individual; since data processing is laborious and time consuming, long periods of use cause electrode wear and may also cause skin irritation; since HR can be altered by other stimuli in addition to physical activity, the device needs to be calibrated for persons who are taking certain medications;[64] loss of contact and external noise (usually starting at 60 Hz) may cause electrical interference with the analysis of the results. These problems can be reduced by appropriate fixation of the sensor to the skin of the user, by the positioning of the transducer close to the system of data acquisition and by the use of an electrolyte gel;[65] ocurrence of biases in the recordings obtained due to changes in HR not related to exercise;[34] not usable for the validation of questionnaires.[31]

• Calorimetry

Energy expenditure can be measured in a precise manner in humans by direct or indirect calorimetry. Since all energy reactions that occur in the organism require oxygen and since oxygen consumption (VO2) is proportional to EE, the indirect calorimetry method is based on respiratory exchange.[52]

In indirect calorimetry, the participant wears a mask and carries the equipment necessary for the analysis of expired air to measure VO2 during physical activity, performed in an environment with controlled humidity, luminosity and temperature. The program that analyzes inspired oxygen and exhaled carbonic gas is calibrated according to maufacturer's instructions.[58] One disadvantage of this technique is that wearing the equipment will probably impact the performance of the physical activity (Hawthorne effect). In addition, this is a complicated and expensive method.[66] In turn, direct calorimetry is based on the fact that all metabolic processes occurring in the organism produce and store heat, with the quantity of heat lost being proportional to EE.[58] In the rooms where calorimetry is performed, it is possible to obtain precise EE measures, since the subjects are confined to a small space with controlled temperature, humidity and luminosity throughout the measuring time.[67] Even under these conditions, the relationship between body temperature and EE may be altered by the level of physical conditioning. In these situations, the monitoring of body temperature is not adequate as the single measurement of EE, but may be useful as part of an integrated monitoring system.[66]

The gold standard for the “outdoor” measurement of EE is the “double-labeled water” method, which is based on the principles of indirect calorimetry. The process involves the intake of a dose of stable ₂H₂O and H₂₁₈O isotopes immediately followed by the measurement of the elimination of these isotopes in urine. The difference in isotope elimination rate is proportional to the metabolically produced CO₂ (VCO₂), a result which is then used to calculate total VO₂ and EE.[68] This approach yields the mean EE occurring over a measuring period of 7 to 14 days.[66] Although this method has already been used for different populations of pregnant women,[59] it does not provide information about the patterns of activity and cannot be used to differentiate the intensity, duration and frequency of the activities evaluated. The high cost of the isotope, together with the need for mass spectrometry to analyze the urine, causes this method to be too costly for use in clinical practice. Thus, the method is more often used for validation in epidemiological studies.[66]

Advantages - precise measurement methods.[69]

Disadvantages- it is not useful for epidemiological studies since it inhibits the normal physical activity of the person and is too expensive to be applied to large populations.[69]

 

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Combination of Analytical Methods

With good acceptability and practicality, questionnaires represent one of the subjective forms of assessment of physical activity most extensively used in epidemiological studies.[22] However, their reliability is low since they can overestimate the levels of physical activity compared with objective measurements such as those obtained with an accelerometer or pedometer.[24] [25]

A strategy for the reduction of errors during the use of self-answered physical activity questionnaires is to follow a conceptual structure consisting of six steps:[70] determination of the need to measure physical activity; selection of an instrument; data collection; data analysis; development of a scoring system; interpretation of the data.

The literature is controversial regarding the possibility to validate questionnaires using objective tools such as an accelerometer of pedometer. In 2004, Chasan-Taber et al[30] developed a specific questionnaire for pregnant women and, when attempting to validate it with the use of an accelerometer, they detected a low to moderate correlation between tools.

A study conducted on 48 pregnant women with gestational ages ranging from 26 to 28 weeks, to compare subjective and direct measurements, observed that the pedometer provides a reliable estimate of physical activity during pregnancy, whereas the International Physical Activity Questionnaire is less precise.[71]

In a study conducted on 59 women with a BMI of more than 25, at the end of the first trimester of gestation, the women answered two different questionnaires, used an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days and then answered again the questionnaires. The authors concluded that the questionnaires overestimated the activities of moderate to vigorous intensity and presented a low capacity to discriminate between the activities of these intensities, whereas the measurements provided by the accelerometers proved to be acceptable and viable.[39]

Comparison of methods for the objective measurement of physical activity reveals that pedometers are devices of lower cost than accelerometer, they have the ability to record the number of steps taken and have varying degrees of sensitivity. In turn, accelerometers, available in different models, are of higher cost, since they can detect and record the real magnitude of acceleration, permitting the determination of the quality or intensity of movement.[38] Their high cost is their most relevant disadvantage.[25] The main advantages of these devices are their small size that permits a person to be monitored for long periods of time without interfering with normal movements, as well as their capacity to store data in a continuous manner. This permits analysis of the information regarding the patterns of activity over several days or weeks.[38]

A study conducted on 81 patients who performed selected tasks from six general categories (gardening, housework, job, family care, conditioning, and recreation) tested the validity of four movement sensors for measuring EE during physical activities of moderate intensity in field and laboratory environments. Energy expenditure was measured during each activity using a portable system, as well as three accelerometers and an electronic pedometer. The authors concluded that the movement sensors tend to overestimate EE during a walk. On the other hand, they may underestimate many other activities due to their inability to detect arm movements or types of exercise in an outdoor environment, representing limitations of these instruments.[58]

Different methods for the assessment of physical activity have advantages and limitations. However, in view of the fact that they provide complementary information, their joint use provides an appropriate assessment of the time, level and intensity of activity.[72]

 

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Conclusion

All tools for the analysis of physical activity have limitations. Thus, it is necessary to establish the objectives of evaluation in an appropriate manner, as well as to determine their viability and cost-effectiveness for the population under study

 

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Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this article.

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