Table 1 Core elements of physical activity training for pregnant women with high risk for GDM

Warm up

5-minute started at light intensity before the main session

walking, breathing training, and static stretching of most muscle groups, including upper limbs, lower limbs, neck, back, and trunk muscles.

[14, 50,51,52]

main session

(FITT)

Frequency (F)

at least 5 days, prefer everyday per week

Aerobic exercise consisted of brisk walking, involving the upper and lower limbs, and stretching activity.

The resistant training engaged major muscle groups, including pectoral, back, shoulder, and upper and lower limb muscles. The movements consisted of half-squats by own body weight, arm extensions, arm side lifts, arm elevations, shoulder shrugs and rotations, lateral leg elevations, knee extensions, knee (hamstring) curls. Each movement will be repeated 10–15 times.

[14, 45, 48, 49, 53,54,55,56,57]

Intensity (I)

moderate-intensity assessed by Borg Scale and Talk Test

Time (T)

30 min per session

Type (T)

Aerobic activities and resistance training

Cool down

5-minute performed at light intensity after the main session

the same exercises as the warm-up period

[55]

Total duration

from 13–14^+ 6 gestational weeks to 35–37 gestational weeks.

[45, 55, 58]

Follow-up visit

first visit: 24–28; second visit: 35–37; third visit: 72 h within delivery

[48, 59]

Compliance

exercise diary; a log of exercise activities and attendance

[54, 56]