How Does the Stage of Pregnancy Influence Gait and Sway in Pregnant Women from Six to Eight Months.

Physiological changes that affect gait, posture, and balance during the late stages of pregnancy increase the risk of falling. These changes were examined across the stages of pregnancy using simulated pregnancy loading. PURPOSE: To compare gait and postural balance measures under three loading conditions simulating zero, 6, and 8-months of simulated pregnancy. We predicted that the added weight in late-stage pregnancy would adversely affect gait characteristics and reduce postural control. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy females (20.1±1.2 years, 1.79±0.11 m, 64.1±9.5 kg) completed a 10-m walking gait assessment. They then completed three trials under each condition, including the Stability Evaluation Test (SET) and Limit of Stability (LofS) postural balance tests using the NeuroCom Balance Master. RESULTS: Step count (F=(2,18)=73.70, p0.05) between stages of pregnancy, but frontal plane sway velocity significantly increased (p