25151903
OBJECTIVE	To explore the effects of walking exercise during late trimester on pregnancy outcome of low-risk primipara .
METHODS	A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted for 123 cases of low-risk primipara who had regular prenatal care at Shengjing Hospital , China Medical University from July 2012 to June 2013 .
METHODS	And informed consent was obtained .
METHODS	The control group included 116 cases of other low-risk primipara in the same period .
METHODS	Except that the experimental group had regular structured walking exercise from 34 weeks of gestational age to delivery , other consulting guidance were the same as the control group .
METHODS	The inter-group differences , such as delivery mode , mean body weight gain per week after 34 weeks of gestation , duration of labor , labor pain perception , neonatal weight and neonatal birth condition , were detected and analyzed .
RESULTS	Finally there were 13 and 8 dropouts in experimental and control groups respectively .
RESULTS	For two groups , the rate of caesarean section was 12.7 % and 18.5 % , the mean body weight gain per week after 34 weeks of gestational age ( 0.41 0.13 ) and ( 0.56 0.09 ) kg , the labor pain score are 6.1 1.9 and 7.6 2.3 , the duration of labor ( 12 4 ) and ( 15 6 ) h , the neonatal birth weight ( 3.4 0.3 ) and ( 3.7 0.6 ) kg and the rate of macrosomia 4.5 % and 7.4 % respectively .
RESULTS	The differences had statistical significance ( P < 0.05 ) .
RESULTS	The rate of preterm birth was 5.5 % and 4.6 % , the rate of premature rupture of membrane 15.5 % and 13.9 % and the rate of neonatal asphyxia 2.7 % and 3.7 % respectively .
RESULTS	The differences had no statistical significance ( all P > 0.05 ) .
CONCLUSIONS	Simple , safe and effective , walking exercise during late trimester may improve the pregnancy outcomes of low-risk primipara .

