‘Tennis Good Exercise For Pregnant Women’
Mar 04, 2004
RENOWNED sports doctor James Sekajjugo has said it is healthy for pregnant women to continue taking part in non-contact sports.
By Douglas Mazune
RENOWNED sports doctor James Sekajjugo has said it is healthy for pregnant women to continue taking part in non-contact sports.
Sekajjugo, a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C) medical and doping control committee was reacting to an amazing New Vision photograph of pregnant Barbra Pinfold playing in the Nomi Open tennis tournament at Lugogo courts last week.
“It is healthy for pregnant women to exercise, though they should be careful to avoid injury. Towards full term it should be less strenuous. Exercising increases flexibility around the pelvis and abdominal muscles,†Sekajjugo explained.
However, Sekajjugo warned expectant women against contact sports.
“But they shouldn’t go for sports like netball, boxing or wrestling. These may even go beyond contact into collision,†said Sekajjugo.
He explained that the stage at which a woman should stop playing depends on the history of previous pregnancies and physical conditions.
But Makerere University Sports tutor and Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) secretary Peninah Kabenge has reservations about pregnant women participation in active sports.
“Chess is absolutely okay. Other non-contact sports are less dangerous but one can overstretch and slip.
May be if it’s playing for leisure you can let a point go. Since she was playing mixed doubles with her husband may be her work rate wasn’t high,†Kabenge said.
Ends
RENOWNED sports doctor James Sekajjugo has said it is healthy for pregnant women to continue taking part in non-contact sports.
Sekajjugo, a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C) medical and doping control committee was reacting to an amazing New Vision photograph of pregnant Barbra Pinfold playing in the Nomi Open tennis tournament at Lugogo courts last week.
“It is healthy for pregnant women to exercise, though they should be careful to avoid injury. Towards full term it should be less strenuous. Exercising increases flexibility around the pelvis and abdominal muscles,†Sekajjugo explained.
However, Sekajjugo warned expectant women against contact sports.
“But they shouldn’t go for sports like netball, boxing or wrestling. These may even go beyond contact into collision,†said Sekajjugo.
He explained that the stage at which a woman should stop playing depends on the history of previous pregnancies and physical conditions.
But Makerere University Sports tutor and Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) secretary Peninah Kabenge has reservations about pregnant women participation in active sports.
“Chess is absolutely okay. Other non-contact sports are less dangerous but one can overstretch and slip.
May be if it’s playing for leisure you can let a point go. Since she was playing mixed doubles with her husband may be her work rate wasn’t high,†Kabenge said.
Ends