ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To confirm the effect of water exercise program for treating the gestational edema. METHODS: Both low leg volume, body weight and urine specific gravity were measured in thirty women with gestational edema before and after water exercise program. Fetal heart rate, maternal heart rate and maternal blood pressure were measured before and after water exercise program. RESULTS: Right leg volume was decreased by 286 ml from 1714 to 1428 mL (P<.0001), left leg volume was decreased by 267 mL from 1,644 to 1,377 mL (P<0.0001), and total leg volume was decreased by 553 mL from 3,359 to 2,805 mL (P<0.0001). Urine specific gravity was decreased by 0.0047 from 1.0197 to 1.0150 (P=0.004). Maternal body weight, heart rate, blood pressure, and fetal heart rate were showed no significant change. CONCLUSION: Water exercise program is effective and safe method for treating the gestational edema.