Table 1.

Protocol of supervised exercise.

Position: Standing
Head and neck stretches	Flexion, extension, lateral bending	Hold each position for 20 seconds
Side bends	With one arm raised, bend trunk laterally to the opposite side	Hold for 20 seconds on each side
Pelvic mobilization	Perform anteversion, retroversion and circumduction of the hip	One minute
Pelvic tilts with pelvic floor muscle training	Perineal exercises performed with the pelvis tilted backward	15 rapid contractions
Stimulation of venous flow in the lower limbs	Plantar flexion	One minute
Stimulation of venous flow in the lower limbs	Squatting using support equipment such as the back of a chair, a wall bar or a stick	2 series of 10 repetitions
Abdominal activation	Contract the transversus abdominis muscle while breathing out	15 repetitions
Position: Seated (using an exercise mat)
Stretching	Triceps brachial muscle; pectoral muscles; posterior thoracic region; hip abductor muscles; posterior thigh muscles	Hold for 20 seconds each
Pelvic floor muscle training	With thighs flexed and abducted and the soles of the feet together, perform perineal exercises.	15 rapid contractions; 15 contractions held for 10 seconds with a 5-second resting period
Position: On all fours
Mobilization of the spine and pelvis	Breathe in, facing forwards, and tilt the pelvis forward; breathe out, lowering head (blow onto stomach) and tilt the pelvis backward.	10 repetitions
Abdominal activation	Contract the abdomen while breathing out slowly, as if trying to make the belly button touch the back.	15 repetitions
Back stretching	Sitting on heels with knees apart, raise arms above head, rest arms and forehead on the mat.	Hold position for 20 seconds
Position: Lateral Decubitus
Stretching and stimulation of the venous circulation in the lower limbs	Flexion/extension of the ankle with one leg raised.	3 series of 20 seconds on each side
Stretching and trunk rotation	With hips and knees flexed and knees together, rotate the trunk in the opposite direction	Hold for 20 seconds
Position: Dorsal Decubitus
Stretching and relaxing the lumbopelvic region	With knees flexed and apart, raise both legs up to the chest and hold; perform flexion/extension of the ankles, swinging the trunk slightly to each side	Hold for one minute
Manual traction of the spine	With knees flexed and feet flat on the mat, the woman is asked to raise her hips. On lowering hips while breathing out, the therapist, with one hand on the sacral region, performs traction in the caudal direction.	Hold for one minute
Relaxation in lateral decubitus
Breathing training for labor	Diaphragmatic breathing with prolonged exhalation through pursed lips.	3 minutes
Relaxation	Progressive relaxation; massage; visualization.	7 minutes