Abstract
Aim
This study assessed if upright cycling is preferable to semi-recumbent cycling during pregnancy.Method
Healthy women with low risk singleton pregnancies were tested at 34-38 weeks gestation. They cycled for 12 min, either semi-recumbent (45 degrees, n = 27) or upright (n = 23), at 135-145 beats min(-1).Results
When semi-recumbent, minute ventilation was greater (p0.05). Small post-exercise fetal heart rate increases (by 8 beats min(-1), pConclusions
(1) Neither posture had a distinct advantage. (2) Both postures were safe for short duration cycling. (3) The same target maternal heart rates are suitable for both postures because they resulted in similar oxygen consumptions and fetal heart rates.