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Effects of physiotherapy on pain and functional activities after cesarean delivery

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effects of a physiotherapy program on incision pain and functional activities in the early post-cesarean period.

Methods

Fifty women were evaluated after Cesarean operation with regard to times of ambulation and return of bowel activity, intensity of incision pain, difficulty in functional activities and number of analgesics required additional to routine pain control procedure. Twenty-four women received only routine nursing care, and a physiotherapy program was applied to the study group (n = 26), additionally.

Results

Postoperative ambulation and return of bowel activity were earlier in the study group (p < 0.05). Incision pain and difficulty in functional activities decreased significantly within 2 days in both groups, and the values were lower in the study group (p < 0.05). Study group needed less medication for pain control (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Findings revealed the effectiveness of a physiotherapy program in the early post-cesarean period in a wider perspective than the current literature, and are considered to be valuable for increasing the quality and productivity of the postnatal care, therefore improving well-being after childbirth.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the nurses and trainees of Hacettepe University Hospitals, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, for their valuable cooperation and help for the study. This study presents major findings of the doctoral thesis by the first author, and was supported by Scientific Research Unit of Hacettepe University (Project number: 05 T02 102 003).

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Muğla School of Health Sciences, Muğla University, Muğla, Turkey

    İlkim Çıtak Karakaya & Mehmet Gürhan Karakaya

  2. Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, 06100, Ankara, Turkey

    İnci Yüksel & Türkan Akbayrak

  3. School of Physical Education and Sports, Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey

    Funda Demirtürk

  4. Maternal and Fetal Perinatology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey

    Özgür Özyüncü & Sinan Beksaç

Authors
  1. İlkim Çıtak Karakaya
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  2. İnci Yüksel
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  3. Türkan Akbayrak
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  4. Funda Demirtürk
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  5. Mehmet Gürhan Karakaya
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  6. Özgür Özyüncü
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  7. Sinan Beksaç
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to İlkim Çıtak Karakaya.

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Çıtak Karakaya, İ., Yüksel, İ., Akbayrak, T. et al. Effects of physiotherapy on pain and functional activities after cesarean delivery. Arch Gynecol Obstet 285, 621–627 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-2037-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-2037-0

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