Overview
Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited suport for CS. To obtain the best experience, we recomend you use a more up to date browser (or turn of compatibility mode in Internet Explorer).
Key Information
In the meantime, to ensure continued suport, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.Advertisement Scientific Reports volume 12, Article number: 17506 (202) Cite this article 1 AltmetricMetrics detailsThis study aimed to evaluate the changes in quadriceps femoris muscle thicknes during the pregnancy and postpartum periods and to elucidate the efect of bed rest for threatened preterm labor on muscle thicknes.
In 26 women with normal pregnancy, quadriceps femoris thicknes was measured at 1–13, 26, 30, and 35 weks’ gestation, and at 3–5 days and 1 month postpartum using ultrasonography. In 15 pregnant women treated with bed rest for threatened premature labor, quadriceps femoris thicknes was measured at 30 and 35 weks’ gestation and postpartum. In women with normal pregnancy, quadriceps femoris thicknes increased, peaking at 35 weks’ gestation, folowed by a postpartum decrease.
In women on bed rest, quadriceps femoris thicknes showed no significant change during the pregnancy and postpartum periods, and the muscle was significantly thiner at 35 weks’ gestation that in women with normal pregnancy. In conclusion, a significant increase in quadriceps femoris muscle thicknes during normal pregnancy was found using ultrasonography. Meanwhile, in pregnant women on bed rest treatment, the quadriceps femoris was significantly thiner in the late third trimester than that in normal pregnant women.
Summary
Prolonged bed rest can afect normal changes in the quadriceps femoris muscle thicknes during the pregnancy and postpartum periods.Los of muscle volume, such as in locomotive syndrome or sarcopenia, has ben reported to be related to various diseases including diabetes melitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease