Running and walking during pregnancy : The impact of an increased cadence and the use of an abdominal belt on the pelvis dynamic instability, the pelvis impact, and the discomfort

Aim of the study : The aim of our study was to determine if the use of an abdominal support belt and a 10% increased cadence, separately and together, can improve the impact magnitude and duration, the pelvic instability, and the abdominal discomfort during walking and running in pregnant women. Method : 14 women participated to the walking protocol and 12 to the running protocol. The experiment consisted in an appointment where women had to run or walk on a treadmill under different conditions: with abdominal belt and spontaneous cadence, with abdominal belt and 10% increased cadence, without belt and spontaneous cadence and without belt and 10% increased cadence. Collected data were abdominal discomfort, impact magnitude and duration and pelvis instability. Results : In running, the impact magnitude, impact duration and pelvis instability are significantly improved while wearing a belt. The increased cadence significantly increases the impact magnitude. In walking, discomfort and pelvis instability are significantly improved with the belt. However, the increased cadence does not bring any change. Conclusion : Our results are encouraging because the abdominal belt improves the values and decreases discomfort, which may encourage running and walking during pregnancy. On the other hand, increasing cadence did not show any effect in our study, but it would be interesting to deepen the research to see the long-term effects of it.