Implications of pain in functional activities in immediate postpartum period according to the mode of delivery and parity: an observational study.
Thalita R C Pereira, Felipe G De Souza, Ana C S Beleza
PMID 28442073WHAT IT FOUND
Pain at rest was mild and similar in both groups, but 42 cesarean women and 34 vaginal women reported pain-related activity limits.
Key findings
01Pain-related functional limitation was reported by 34 vaginal women and 42 cesarean women (p=0.02).
02Delivery mode was associated with pain limiting sitting, standing, walking, lying down, and bathing (p<0.05).
03Activity limitation was related to delivery mode, not parity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
This was a cross-sectional observational study, so it cannot show cause. Women were assessed only 6 to 24 hours after birth, so later postpartum recovery was not measured. Only healthy women with single newborns and no complications were included. 345 postpartum women were present, but 86 were included. Pain and activity limits were self-reported and categorized by one researcher. Medical records did not describe episiotomy type or lacerations. Some activities were analyzed only among women who had already performed them. The reported movement pain means and the statement about which group had more severe movement pain do not agree.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that cesarean birth causes more pain overall. Pain at rest was mild and similar in both groups, and this study only observed associations.