Posturography Changes During Pregnancy

The subjects will be tested at enrollment and during weeks 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40 of their pregnancy, as well every 4 weeks postpartum up to 6 months. The following protocol will be used:

• Subjects will also be asked to answer a short health questionnaire.
• The following data will be recorded each time: height, minimum stance width, circumference measurements of the chest, abdomen, hip and each thigh as well as a supine fundal height. A full body side-profile photo was also taken to determine the curvature of the spine.
• A session questionnaire will be used to determine if the subject had fallen or noticed any changes in their daily activity.
• In a seated position, the following measurements will be recorded: 1-minute heart rate variability (HRV) with paced breathing, temporal scan body temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, blood pressure and SpO2 (these last three will be measured bilaterally).
• Subject will undergo posturography testing using the modified Clinical Testing of Sensory Integration in Balance (mCTSIB) protocol: four 30 s tests in the following conditions: eyes open on a rigid surface (NSEO), eyes closed on a rigid surface (NSEC), eyes open on a compliant surface (PSEO), and eyes closed on a compliant surface (PSEC).
• At the end of the posturography testing, heart rate, blood pressure and SpO2 will be re-measured bilaterally in the standing and then seated positions, as will be the seated HRV.

Inclusion criteria

• healthy women less than 20 weeks pregnant

Exclusion criteria

• women affected by any pathology and/or more than 20 weeks pregnant