Effects of Body Shape in Late Pregnancy on Motor Imagery, Fear of Falls, and Obstacle Crossing Movement

<p>The fall rate among pregnant women is nearly 20%, highlighting a significant concern. This study aimed to identify factors associated with falls in pregnant women and investigate walking and crossing-over movement characteristics during the late stages of pregnancy. Twenty healthy young women were assessed for the accuracy of their motor imagery during walking, while nine participants were evaluated for toe clearance during obstacle crossing both with and without simulated pregnant women's experience jackets. The participants were also queried about their fear of falling using the ABC scale while wearing the simulated pregnant women's experience jacket. The results revealed a significant underestimation in motor imagery accuracy for a maximum walk of 10 meters when participants wore the simulated pregnant women's experience jacket. The mean value of the ABC scale was 54.2%, indicating a high fear of falls. During the obstacle crossing, the toe clearance of the trailing foot while carrying a load was greater compared to crossing without a load. Furthermore, the toe clearance of the trailing foot when crossing lower obstacles with the simulated pregnant women's experience jacket was lower than that without it. The high incidence of falls among pregnant women was thought to be due to their tendency to lose balance when crossing obstacles while carrying luggage because they raise their lower limbs significantly to ensure clearance, which in turn predisposed them to tripping over low obstacles due to insufficient clearance.</p>