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Observational Study
. 2017 Jan-Feb;21(1):37-43.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2016.12.003. Epub 2017 Jan 13.

Implications of pain in functional activities in immediate postpartum period according to the mode of delivery and parity: an observational study

Thalita R C Pereira  1 , Felipe G De Souza  2 , Ana C S Beleza  3
Affiliations
Observational Study

Implications of pain in functional activities in immediate postpartum period according to the mode of delivery and parity: an observational study

Thalita R C Pereira et al. Braz J Phys Ther. 2017 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: To identify women's complaints about pain in the immediate postpartum of vaginal delivery and cesarean section; to measure the intensity of pain in postpartum women at rest and with selected movements and to compare the activity limitations in relation to the mode of delivery and parity.

Method: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. Eighty-six women, in the immediate postpartum period after vaginal delivery (n=43) and cesarean section (n=43), were evaluated for physical discomforts and their difficulty in performing functional activities.

Results: Abdominal pain (mean differences=-39.5%; 95% CI=-57.3 to -21.8%), neck pain (mean differences=-16.3%; 95% CI=-32.3 to -0.3%) and edema (mean differences=-41.4%; 95% CI=-63.3 to -20.4%) were reported of cesarean women postpartum. Perineal pain (p<0.05) was reported in vaginal delivery women postpartum. Postpartum pain was more severe during movement after cesarean section (p<0.05) resulting in pain during the activities of sitting down (mean differences=-30.2%; 95% CI=-50.7 to -9.8%), standing up from a sitting position (mean differences=-46.5%; 95% CI=-65.0 to -28.0%), walking (mean differences=-44.2%; 95% CI=-65.2 to -23.1%), lying down (mean differences=-32.6%; 95% CI=-54.9 to -10.3%) and taking a bath (mean differences=-24.0%; 95% CI=-43.1 to -5.0%). Correspondence analysis found no association between parity and functional limitations.

Conclusion: The highest number of complaints was associated with movement activities and cesarean section postpartum. There was no relationship between functional limitations and parity in this study.

Keywords: Activities of daily living; Pain; Physical therapy specialty; Postpartum period; Woman's health.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pain intensity distribution measured (A) at rest (p = 0.99) and (B) at movement (p < 0.05) (minimum, maximum and median) according to the mode of delivery. Student t test for unrelated samples.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correspondence analysis between the functional activities, mode of delivery (x-axis) and parity (y-axis) for women after vaginal or cesarean section birthing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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