Postpartum Low back pain (PP-LBP) is more common and can lead to limitations to women's daily activity. Pregnancy related low back pain has been reported to occur in 55% to 78% women worldwide.This study is planned to determine the effects of abdominal hypopressive technique on postpartum low back pain, mobility and disability.
literature suggests the use of hypopressive abdominal techniques to be effective in increasing the thickness of the abdominal muscles and hence add to the stability of the spine and alleviation of low back pain in the postpartum period. This will be a randomized controlled trial, with two groups. Participants in the experimental group will learn how to perform the "hypopressive maneuver", which consisted of exhaling to their expiratory reserve volume, then holding their breath (apnea), and expanding their rib cage, to draw their abdominal wall inward and cranially without inhalation. control group will perform general exercises. Both groups will be assessed at pre and post test (after 6weeks)
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
31
Active and specific Therapeutic exercises will be used to treat postpartum low back pain in this study. AHE consisted of exhaling to their expiratory reserve volume, then holding their breath (apnea), and expanding their rib cage, to draw their abdominal wall inward and cranially without inhalation. Each exercise will have a specific frequency, intensity, and duration.
General exercises are therapeutic exercises for core muscles for the treatment of postpartum low back pain.
Holy Family Hospital
Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
The pain score was assessed using the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) is a scoring system, wherein the pain level was quantified on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain). The NPRS is a valid and frequently employed method of musculoskeletal pain assessment.
Time frame: Changes from Baseline to 6th week
Pregnancy Mobility Index
It is self-report mobility scale designed specifically for the pregnant women. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) is 0.8 or higher indicating a good construct validity. The assumptions that the Pregnancy Mobility Index scores increase during pregnancy and decrease after delivery and that women with back or pelvic problems scored higher on the Pregnancy Mobility Index domains than women without back or pelvic pain were confirmed, indicating a good criterion validation. Its scores range from 0 to 100, in which 0 equals 'normal performance' and 100 indicates 'maximum disability
Time frame: Changes from Baseline to 6th week
Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life Index
It is a sixteen-item scale, which is a valid and reliable instrument for postpartum QOL assessment. It includes items on the different aspects of postpartum QOL and can be used for the early diagnosis of impaired postpartum QOL. The QoL score ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating higher QoL.
Time frame: Changes from Baseline to 6th week
Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index(ODI)
The Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index is a validated, 10-point patient-reported outcome questionnaire. It is considered the 'gold standard for measuring disability and quality of life (QoL) impairment for adults with low back pain. The Cronbach-α for the ODI is 0.75. The ODI showed excellent test- retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.91)
Time frame: Changes from Baseline to 6th week
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