“Effectiveness of specific lumbar stabilization Exercises for low back pain among postpartum Women”.

Abstract

Background: Postpartum back pain is common, with upto 75% of women experiencing back pain immediately following birth due to ligament laxity and postural changes. Besides the lack of pelvic floor muscles strength, urine leakage problem during coughing and sneezing also arises in this condition. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of stabilization exercise (SE) and Kegel exercise. Objective: To evaluate the pain intensity in rest and different functional activities before and after introducing spinal stabilization exercises in postpartum women with low back pain and also find out the effect of Kegel exercise. Methodology: A Quasi Experimental (one group) pretest-posttest design was used. 27 patients with postpartum low back pain, attended at Gynecological and Women’s Health unit, CRP, Mirpur were purposively chosen to conduct the study. Spinal stabilization exercise was applied to the participants to find out the effectiveness of this exercise. Kegel exercise was also introduced who have urine leakage problem among 27 patients. All patients were receiving treatment for 2 days in a week and total for 6 weeks. Numeric pain rating Scale was used to measure pain intensity indifferent functional activities such as swiping, squatting, chair sitting heavy weight lifting, walking, journey by bus or rickshaw and staring. Pain score was analyzed by calculating “Wilcoxon Signed Ranked test”. Results: Results showed that relative improvement occurs in all participants in the experimental group. Pain scores on numeric pain rating Scale on different functional activities such as during toilet sitting, stair climbing, during walking, during weight lifting, were relatively reduced that was also statistically significant. Participants who have a urine leakage problem also recover from this problem. Conclusion: Lumbar stabilization exercises has an effect on reducing pain and improving functional activities, and to solve urine leakage problem Kegel exercise alsoeffective. Keywords: Spinal stabilization exercises, Low back pain, Postpartum low back pain, Kegel exercise.