1 CEC
Are You Ready to Recommend Physical Activity for Pregnant People?
By Margie H. Davenport, Ph.D., FACSM; Michelle F. Mottola, Ph.D., FACSM, FCSEP, FCAHS; Linda E. May, M.S., Ph.D., FACSM, FAHA; Rachel Tinius, Ph.D., FACSM; Samantha McDonald, Ph.D.; Taniya S. Nagpal, Ph.D.; and Janet M. Shaw, Ph.D., FACSM
Traditionally, pregnant individuals were required to obtain medical clearance before beginning or continuing physical activity during pregnancy. However, with the establishment of the safety and benefits of prenatal exercise, the requirement that all individuals obtain medical clearance for prenatal physical activity is no longer needed. Importantly, though, identifying the small group of individuals with contraindications remains necessary. The Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy (GAQ-P) was developed as a self-administered exercise pre-participation screening tool that identifies individuals who may have contraindications to prenatal exercise requiring additional consultation with a health care provider. The GAQ-P can be used with the Health Care Provider Consultation form for Prenatal Physical Activity as a supplemental document to increase the communication between the health care provider, pregnant individual, and fitness professional.
