Train for two!

Exercise and sport are generally considered beneficial to health and are strongly recommended. Even today inactivity and lack of exercise are the most common preventable causes of premature death worldwide. Pregnancy is seen as a time of change in a woman's life. During this stage of their lives women are particularly receptive to advice on health promotion and maintenance. However pregnant women are still not sufficiently informed about the positive aspects of exercise during pregnancy (in uncomplicated pregnancies) even though it is now clear that women should be encouraged to exercise during pregnancy. In this paper the author highlights the changes relevant to the topic that occur during pregnancy and their physiological basis. Training recommendations based on current study results are presented and areas where further research is needed are highlighted.