Margie H Davenport

University of Alberta | UAlberta · Faculty of Kinesiology Sport and Recreation

Objective Recent research grounded in the experiences of elite female athletes has shed light on the complex challenges of navigating sport environments that do not support or value pregnant or postpartum athletes. The purpose of this study was to explore the unique experiences of coaches and healthcare providers working with pregnant and postpartu...

We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effect of acute poikilocapnic, high-altitude, and acute isocapnia hypoxemia on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and cardiovascular function. A comprehensive search across electronic databases was performed until June 2021. All observational designs were included: population (healthy individuals)...

Advanced maternal age (≥35 years) is a risk factor for poor pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy requires extensive maternal vascular adaptations, and with age, our blood vessels become stiffer and change in structure (collagen and elastin). However, the effect of advanced maternal age on the structure of human resistance arteries during pregnancy is unkn...

Objective We aimed to compare maternal and fetal cardiovascular responses to an acute bout of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) during pregnancy. Methods Fifteen women with a singleton pregnancy (27.3 ± 3.5 weeks of gestation, 33 ± 4 years of age) were recruited. Following a peak fitness t...

It has been only recently that female endurance athletes have been deemed capable of training and being successful in endurance sports. This unfortunate attitude has resulted in limited research regarding female endurance over the life course. In this chapter we overview the impact of key life events over the life span of female endurance athletes,...

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of moderate intensity walking on postprandial blood glucose control for pregnant individuals with (GDM) and without gestational diabetes mellitus (NON-GDM). Using a randomized cross-over design, individuals completed 5 days of exercise (three 10-min walks immediately after eating (SHORT), or one 30-min...

Hypertensive pregnancy disorders put the maternal-fetal dyad at risk and are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. Multiple efforts have been made to understand the physiological mechanisms behind changes in blood pressure. Still, to date, no study has focused on analyzing the dynamics of the interactions between th...

We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to quantify the impact of healthy and complex pregnancy on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) at rest, and in response to stress. Structured searches of electronic databases were performed until February 23, 2022. All study designs (except reviews) were included: population (pregnant individu...

We retrospectively analyzed data from 28 participants engaging in moderate intensity aerobic exercise (265 sessions; 25-40 minutes) between 18-34 weeks gestation (NCT02948439). The mean change in blood glucose (BG) from pre- to post- acute exercise session was -1.0 ± 1.2 mmol/L. Pre-exercise BG significantly predicted the change in BG (p<0.001), ev...

Objectives Little is known about the impact of elite sport participation on long-term athlete health. We aimed to: (1) describe musculoskeletal, mental health, reproductive/endocrine and cardiovascular characteristics in retired elite female athletes and compare to the general population and (2) explore athletes’ perceptions of their elite sport pa...

Although sleep problems are highly prevalent in infants, the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence sleep consolidation and regulation in this age group are not well understood. This study aimed to examine the cross-sectional associations of demographic and parental factors with infant sleep characteristics. Participants were 97 Canadian mo...

New findings: What is the topic of this review? Sympathoexcitation in both healthy and hypertensive pregnancies, and concurrent adaptations along the neurovascular cascade. What advances does it highlight? Known and plausible adaptations along the neurovascular cascade which may offset elevated MSNA in normotensive pregnancy while also highlightin...

Introduction and hypothesisParticipation in Olympic weightlifting, the Valsalva maneuver, and acute or prolonged supine weightlifting during pregnancy are cautioned against; however, these recommendations are based on expert opinions as opposed to empirical evidence. The aim of this study was to examine the training and health outcomes of individua...

The present study investigated the glycemic response to an acute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session (10 one-minute intervals ≥90% HRmax interspersed with one-minute of active recovery) versus a moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) session (30 min at 64%-76% HRmax ) during pregnancy. Twenty-four normoglycemic females with a sin...

Background Recent research has shown that pregnant individuals experience weight stigma throughout gestation, including negative comments and judgement associated with gestational weight gain (GWG). Weight bias internalization (WBI) is often a result of exposure to weight stigma and is detrimental to biopsychological health outcomes. The purpose of...

Background A growing number of athletes return to elite sport following childbirth. Yet, they face significant barriers to do so safely and successfully. The experiences of elite athletes returning to sport following delivery are necessary to support evidence-informed policy. Objective The purpose of this qualitative description was to describe th...

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with future cardiovascular disease (CVD), which may be mediated by diminished cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we summarize evidence linking CRF with HDP before, during, and after pregnancy. We searched relevant databases to identify observational...

Importance: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for menopausal individuals. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a surrogate marker of CVD, improves with aerobic exercise training in healthy and nonhealthy cohorts. However, systematic evaluation and precise estimate of this effect for menopausal individuals are unkn...

The purpose of this study was to determine if rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during non-weight-bearing exercise is influenced by gestational age and exercise training. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the influence of gestational age and exercise training (three to four times per week for 25–40 minutes at 50%–70% of heart r...

*Lifelong Learning Standard (LLL) definition describes the essential, knowledge, skills, responsibility and autonomy written as Learning Outcomes, required to work in the European Fitness and Physical Activity Sector as a professional qualified in the relevant field e.g. pregnancy and postpartum exercise. Qualification against a Lifelong Learning S...

Background: We conducted meta-analyses to identify relationships between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), and blood pressure (BP). We quantified the effect of OSA treatment on MSNA. Methods: Structured searches of electronic databases were performed until June 2021. All observational designs (exce...

Objectives: This study examined the impacts of individual and combined associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time (ST) (accelerometer-derived), as well as MVPA and television (TV) time (self-reported) on cardiometabolic biomarkers during pregnancy. Methods: Participants were 332 pregnant women from the...

Objective To examine the influence of physical activity before and during pregnancy on maternal mental health outcomes. Methods Ten electronic databases were searched up to May 11, 2021. Studies of all observational designs (except case studies and reviews) were included, which contained information on the relevant population (women before and or...

This study aimed to produce a list of the top 10 research priorities regarding physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep in pregnancy. Using the Delphi methodology, pregnant/postpartum individuals (N = 118), exercise professionals and healthcare providers (N = 55) listed up to 10 questions perceived as unanswered regarding physical activity,...

Both voluntary rebreathing (RB) of expired air and voluntary apneas (VA) elicit changes in arterial carbon dioxide and oxygen (CO2 and O2) chemostimuli. These chemostimuli elicit synergistic increases in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and sympathetic nervous system activation, with the latter increasing systemic blood pressure. The extent that simultane...

Objectives Athletes train and compete at the elite level during their reproductive years, yet sport policies that support pregnant athletes are lacking. The experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy are vastly under-represented, and such voices are needed to support evidence-informed policy. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to d...

We performed a randomised controlled trial measuring dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) using a sit-to-stand maneuver before (SS1) and following (SS2) an acute exercise test at 16-20 weeks gestation (trimester 2; TM2) and then again at 34-37 weeks gestation (third trimester; TM3). Following the first assessment, women were randomised into exerci...

The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and arterial stiffness in pregnancy. Thirty-nine women participated in this study, resulting in 68 measurements in non-pregnant (NP; n = 21), first (TM1; n = 8), second (TM2; n = 20), and third trimesters (TM3; n = 19). Compl...

Guidelines for physical activity during pregnancy have existed since 1985. Extensive literature in the subsequent forty years have conclusively demonstrated the safety and benefits of prenatal physical activity for individuals without contraindications. [1, 2] Most global guidelines include specific medical conditions where moderate to vigorous int...

Of all physiological systems, the cardiovascular system takes on the most profound adaptation in pregnancy to support fetal growth and development. The adaptations that arise are systemic and involve structural and functional changes that can be observed at the cerebral, central, peripheral, and microvascular beds. This includes, although is not li...

Evidence-based guidelines represent the highest level of scientific evidence to identify best practices for clinical/public health. However, the availability of guidelines do not guarantee their use, targeted knowledge translation strategies and tools are necessary to help promote uptake. Following publication of the 2019 Canadian Guideline for Phy...

Normal blood [glucose] regulation is critical to support metabolism, particularly in contexts of metabolic stressors (e.g., exercise, high altitude hypoxia). Data regarding blood [glucose] regulation in hypoxia are inconclusive. We aimed to characterize blood [glucose] over 80 min following glucose ingestion during both normoxia and acute normobari...

Purpose: Healthy pregnancy is typically associated with favorable vascular adaptations to both structure and function of the peripheral arteries. Exercise is independently associated with improvements in peripheral vascular health; however, the impact of exercise on prenatal adaptations is unclear. Therefore, we hypothesized that a structured aero...

BACKGROUND Guidelines on physical activity/exercise during pregnancy recommend all women without contraindications engage in regular physical activity to improve both their own health and the health of their baby. Many women are uncertain how to safely engage in physical activity/exercise during this life-stage and are increasingly using mobile app...

Background: Guidelines for physical activity and exercise during pregnancy recommend that all women without contraindications engage in regular physical activity to improve both their own health and the health of their baby. Many women are uncertain how to safely engage in physical activity and exercise during this life stage and are increasingly...

We assessed the impact of a structured lower-limb aerobic exercise training intervention during pregnancy on brachial artery endothelial function, shear rate and patterns, and forearm blood flow and reactive hyperemia. Twenty-seven pregnant women were recruited and randomized into either a control group (n = 11; 31.0 ± 0.7 years), or an exercise in...

The concept of prenatal physical activity has transitioned from a potentially risky behaviour to a prescription to improve maternal–fetal health. Pregnant women who are hospitalized because of a complication should continue to engage in light activities of daily living given the known adverse effects of maternal bedrest. Because the amount physical...

A total of 83 third trimester pregnant women were recruited to examine the role of pre-pregnancy versus late-pregnancy physical activity on maternal insulin resistance. Principal component analysis plots demonstrated a distinction between the high and low Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) groups. The variation was driven...

The health benefits of prenatal physical activity (PA) are established for singleton pregnancies. In contrast, individuals with multifetal pregnancies (twins, triplets or more) are recommended to restrict or cease PA. The objectives of the current study were to determine behaviors and barriers to PA in multifetal pregnancies. Between 29 May and 24...

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, obstetric care has adopted new precautions to ensure services can be maintained for pregnant women. The aim of this study was to describe access to and quality of obstetric care for pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify factors that predict quality of care at this time...

Purpose: To evaluate postpartum maternal health and training outcomes of females who were competing or training as elite athletes prior-to or during pregnancy. Methods: Online databases were searched up to August 26, 2020. Studies of any design and language were eligible if they contained information on the relevant population (postpartum athlet...

Pregnancy is recognized as a natural physiological stressor to the maternal cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular adaptation is markedly greater in twin compared to singleton pregnancy; however, these changes are sparsely documented in triplet pregnancy. The aim of this case series was to compare maternal cardiac function, cardioautonomic regulatio...

Objective To examine the influence of prenatal artificial sweetener consumption on birth outcomes. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Setting Online databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, FSTA - the food resource database, and ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched up to April 9, 2020. Studies of all des...

In conjunction with significant cardiovascular adaptation, changes in cardioautonomic balance, specifically greater sympathetic activation and vagal withdrawal, are considered normal adaptations to healthy singleton pregnancy. Cardiovascular adaptation to twin pregnancy is more profound than that of singleton pregnancies; however, the changes in ca...

Purpose: Exercise guidelines recommend incorporating resistance exercise (RE) into a regular aerobic training program during pregnancy. Yet, few women do so due to uncertainties about the safety of prenatal RE, particularly regarding the Valsalva maneuver (VM). The aim of this study was to determine the acute cardiovascular responses to prenatal R...

Purpose: Women who develop gestational hypertension have evidence of elevated muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in early pregnancy which continues to rise following diagnosis. Exercise has been shown to play a preventative role in the development of gestational hypertension and has been shown to reduce resting and reflex MSNA in non-pregnan...

Isometric handgrip (IHG) is used to assess sympathetic nervous system responses to exercise and may be useful at predicting hypertension in both pregnant and non-pregnant populations. We have previously observed altered sympathetic nervous system control of blood pressure in late pregnancy. Therefore, we measured muscle sympathetic nerve activity (...

( Am J Obstet Gynecol . 2020;222:224–238) Over the past several decades, there has been an increase in the proportion of women who work. Some evidence suggests that adverse pregnancy outcomes including miscarraige and preterm delivery may be associated with physically demanding work during pregnancy, but previous systematic reviews have not found c...

Objective: To determine whether increased chemoreflex tonic activity is associated with augmented muscle sympathetic nervous sys activity (MSNA) in women diagnosed with preeclampsia. Methods: Women with preeclampsia (n=19; 32±5 years old, 31±3 weeks gestation) were matched by age and gestational age with pregnant women (controls, n=38, 32±4 year...

Aging is associated with subjective memory complaints. Approximately half of those with subjective memory complaints have objective cognitive impairment. Previous studies have provided evidence of an association between genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia progression. Also, aging is a significant risk factor for vascular patholog...

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate fetal and maternal pregnancy outcomes of elite athletes who had participated in competitive sport immediately prior to conception. Methods: Online databases were searched up to March 24, 2020. Studies of any design and language were eligible if they contained information on the relev...

Objectives: Despite extensive evidence demonstrating the benefits of prenatal physical activity (PA), inefficient knowledge translation may contribute to low rates of PA during pregnancy. This study aimed to examine the impact of the 2019 Canadian Guideline for Physical Activity throughout Pregnancy (hereafter Guideline) on knowledge transmission...

The goal of this review is to examine practical considerations when conducting cardiopulmonary exercise testing during pregnancy. In a clinical and research setting, cardiopulmonary exercise testing during pregnancy is valuable in identifying underlying cardiopulmonary conditions, stratifying the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, as well as estab...

Background: The ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Adults is a knowledge exchange tool representing a synthesis of the literature and data available at the national level. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the results of the inaugural 2019 edition. Methods: Thirteen physical activity indicators, grouped into 4 categories...

( Am J Obstet Gynecol . 2019;221:563–576) Women make up a significant proportion of the workforce, and most work during their pregnancies. While studies have found an association between adverse pregnancy outcomes and various working hours, such as shift work or working longer than the standard 40-hour work week, the results have been conflicting....

Apply It!Summary •Pregnant women are recommended to engage in ≥150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity over three or more days per week. •This level of PA significantly reduces the odds of developing pregnancy complications ( e.g. , diabetes and hypertension) without increasing the odds of miscarriage, early delivery, or a small baby. •...

(Abstracted from Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020;222(3):224–238) Many women engage in work that is physically demanding. Work that includes carrying heavy loads or working in tiring or painful positions has been associated with adverse outcomes in pregnancy, such as preterm delivery and miscarriage.

Poor sleep in the postpartum is often treated as an unavoidable consequence of childbirth. This study aims to compare objective and subjective measures of sleep, explore the relationship between sleep and postpartum weight retention (PPWR), and investigate factors that may contribute to sleep quality in the postpartum period. In this cross-sectiona...

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with vascular dysfunction. Sympathetic nervous system activity (SNA) is an important regulator of vascular function, and is influenced by glucose and insulin. The association between GDM and SNA (re)activity is unknown. We hypothesize that women with GDM would have increased SNA durin...

Introduction: Depression and anxiety affect one in seven women during the perinatal period, and are associated with increased risk of preterm delivery, reduced mother-infant bonding, and delays in cognitive/emotional development of the infant. With this survey we aimed to rapidly assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent physical...

Background Clinical guidelines recommend pregnant women without contraindication engage in regular physical activity. This is based on extensive evidence demonstrating the safety and benefits of prenatal exercise. However, certain medical conditions or contraindications warrant a reduction, modification or cessation of activity due to potential hea...

Objective To test the hypothesis that aerobic exercise is associated with improvements in cognition and cerebrovascular regulation, we enrolled 206 healthy low-active middle-aged and older adults (mean ± SD age 65.9 ± 6.4 years) in a supervised 6-month aerobic exercise intervention and assessed them before and after the intervention. Methods The s...

Objective: Our goal was to explore the range and characteristics of published papers on therapeutic walking programs for menopausal women and to identify program features that resulted in successful outcomes including reduced symptoms and improved long-term wellness. Methods: We searched biomedical and exercise-related databases for articles pub...

Associations between prepregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, maternal age, and basal sympathetic nervous system activity (SNA) in normotensive pregnant women have not been explored. Retrospective analysis of microneurography records from 74 normotensive pregnant women during their third trimester indicated that although pregnancy is...

Purpose: Recent evidence suggests an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease development in multiparous women. Therefore, we investigated the effects of multi-parity on within-pregnancy sympathetic neural regulation in normotensive, pregnant women. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and muscle sympathetic...

Purpose: To examine the influence of prenatal exercise on maternal cardiorespiratory health and fitness during pregnancy. Methods: Online databases were searched up to February 25, 2019. Studies of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible, which contained information on the relevant population (pregnant women), intervention (subjective...

Cerebrovascular adaptation to pregnancy is poorly understood. We sought to assess cerebrovascular regulation in response to visual stimulation, hypercapnia and exercise across the three trimesters of pregnancy. Using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound, middle and posterior cerebral artery mean blood velocities (MCAvmean and PCAvmean) were measur...