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A. Kale1, B. Bellare2
1MGM Institute of Physiotherapy, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy, Aurangabad, India, 2MGM's School of Physiotherapy, MGMIHS, Physiotherapy, Navi Mumbai, India
Background: Postnatal physiotherapy though being proven beneficial around the globe, it not being practiced in India. Neither has it been included in any government maternal health schemes. Postpartum cultures and traditions have a large impact on postnatal practices in India. To incorporate physiotherapy in the puerperal period, they must be designed according to individual cultures and traditions.
Purpose: To study the effect of cultural impact with regards to practice of Postnatal Physiotherapy (PNP) and to study the effect of culturally suitable physiotherapy intervention on postnatal health markers related to abdominal capsule in primiparous women.
Methods: 142 primiparous women were evaluated in detail and were taught individual based culturally suitable postnatal physiotherapy exercises after attending awareness classes. They were followed up at 6 weeks and 12 weeks thereafter. At each visit they were re assessed. After 12 weeks, comparison of the effects of culturally suitable PNP intervention on awareness and adherence to PNP intervention, and postnatal health markers such as local abdominal muscle activity, width of diastasis recti (if any), strength of pelvic floor muscles, retrovesical (Beta) angle, kyphotic and lordotic index, lower chest expansion were done.
Results: The results showed a negative cultural impact on physical activity during the puerperal period. There was a significant positive difference in local muscle activity, width of diastasis recti, and strength of pelvic floor muscles on first assessment and assessment on 12th week. There was no significant difference in retrovesical angle on vasalva, but a significant difference on maximal pelvic contraction. There was a significant positive difference in kyphotic and lordotic index and lower chest expansion.
Conclusion(s): Negative cultural impact on puerperal physical activity was confirmed, with poor awareness about PNP. Patient education and culturally suitable PNP showed significantly positive effect on its acceptance and health markers of the abdominal capsule.
Implications: The clinical implication of this study in the form of individual based culturally suitable exercises in the puerperal period will ensure its acceptance and adherence to the exercises, thus providing the necessary postpartum care required.
Funding, acknowledgements: No funding received for this study.
Keywords: postnatal physiotherapy, culture, pelvic floor muscles
Topic: Pelvic, sexual and reproductive health
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: MGM Medical College and Research Centre
Committee: MGM ECRHS
Ethics number: CTRI/2018/09/015636
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
