Hui Wang, Xiaolan Feng, Zishu Liu, Yan Liu, Ribo Xiong
Department of gynecology and obstetrics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, China.
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2812

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a rehabilitation programme for lumbopelvic pain after childbirth.
Methods: Women with lumbopelvic pain 3 months postpartum were included in a randomized controlled trial. Patients in the intervention group (n = 48) received pelvic floor muscle training combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the paraspinal muscles for 12 weeks, while patients in the control group (n = 48) received neuromuscular electrical stimulation for 12 weeks. Outcomes were measured with the Triple Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ) and Short-Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36).
Results: The NPRS score was significantly better in the intervention group at 12 weeks compared with the control group (p = 0. 000). The MODQ score was significantly better at 6 and 12 weeks compared with the control group (p = 0. 009 and p = 0. 015, respectively). The mean value of the Physical Components Summary of the SF-36, was significantly better in the intervention group at 6 weeks (p = 0. 000) and 12 weeks (p = 0. 000) compared with the control group, but there was no significant improvement in Mental Components Summary of the SF-36.
Conclusion: A postpartum programme for women with lumbopelvic pain is feasible and improves the physical domain of quality of life.

Postpartum lumbopelvic pain is common, and there are a range of treatments available. The aim of this study was to establish a programme for use in clinical practice, comprising pelvic floor muscle training combined with other traditional treatments. The programme was shown to reduce pain and improve patients’ quality of life. No adverse events occurred.