How Active Are Women in the First Year of Motherhood? A Systematic Review of Device-Measured Physical Activity

This systematic review summarizes previous findings of device-measured moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) in minutes per day from childbirth to 1 year postpartum. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Embase.

Eligible studies reported device-measured MVPA at any time within the first 12 months postpartum in healthy parous women. Out of the 1437 studies identified, 15 studies were included, with study populations ranging from 20 to 532 women. MVPA was measured using various physical activity (PA) trackers, with ActiGraph devices being the most common (n = 10).

Definitions of MVPA varied, utilizing counts per minute (cpm), Euclidean Norm Minus One (ENMO), metabolic equivalent tasks (METs), or proprietary algorithms. MVPA estimates ranged from 2.14 to 87.3 min/day. Most studies revealed an estimate of MVPA ≤ 27.6 min/day (n = 10), while four studies reported ≥ 55.5 min/day. MVPA estimates varied widely, with most studies reporting estimates below the World Health Organization recommendation of a minimum of 150 min MPA per week.

Differences in study characteristics, tracker placement, data processing, and the cut-offs used to define MVPA likely contributed to variability, highlighting the need for standardized methodologies to improve comparability. Expanding our knowledge of postpartum PA can support new mothers in meeting health-enhancing PA recommendations.