Breastfeeding, though essential for the nourishment and development of newborns, often imposes significant musculoskeletal strain on mothers, particularly in the neck and shoulder regions. Prolonged static postures, repetitive feeding routines, and improper ergonomic positions contribute to mechanical stress, leading to chronic discomfort or pain during the postpartum period Postnatal women frequently assume awkward positions while nursing, such as forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and spinal flexion, which contribute to musculoskeletal dysfunctions . The cumulative load on the musculoskeletal and fascial systems during breastfeeding leads to muscle imbalances, myofascial tightness, and trigger point development.
Current physiotherapy interventions emphasize posture education, ergonomic training, and targeted exercises to mitigate this pain. Posture correction exercises aim to improve alignment, decrease strain on muscles and joints, and enhance motor control in the upper quarter . Soft tissue moblization a manual therapy technique targeting fascial layers, has also shown promising results in improving mobility, reducing trigger point activity, and decreasing referred pain.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Physiotherapy exercises of Shoulder and Neck Strengthening + Postural Correction Exercises for shoulder and neck pain
Physiotherapy exercises of Shoulder and Neck Strengthening + soft tissue mobilization Exercises for shoulder and neck pain
Lahore City
Lahore, Pakistan
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is an 11-point scale used to measure pain intensity, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable).
Time frame: 6 Month
Neck Disability Index (NDI)
The Neck Disability Index (NDI) is a questionnaire used to assess how neck pain affects a person's daily life and disability. It consists of 10 items, each scored on a 0-5 scale, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 50. A higher score indicates greater perceived disability due to neck pain
Time frame: 6 Months
Breastfeeding self efficacy scale
All items are preceded by the phrase ''I can always'' and rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not at all confident) to 5 (always confident). Total scores range from 14 to 70, with higher scores reflecting more significant levels of breastfeeding self-efficacy
Time frame: 6 months
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