AfterBabyBodyStudy- Testing Manual Examination Methods and Exercise Effects on Muscular Recovery After Pregnancy

Plain-language summary

Exercising postpartum is important for the health of mother and child. However, there are physical changes postpartum which can prevent women from exercising postpartum. About 30% of women postpartum have problems with stress urinary incontinence. Almost as many have a remaining separation of the two parts of the muscle rectus abdominis. Over the last decenium there has been an increased interest but also disparate information about these conditions. This has led to an increased uncertainty among women who wants to resume exercising postpartum. More and more women seek help of physiotherapists to verify an appropriate function in their muscles after pregnancy. However, reliable and valid examination methods are scarce and it is unclear how to interpret the examination results to give individualized exercise advice. The aim of this study is to test the reliability of examination methods for the pelvic floor function and separation of the rectus abdominis and the criterion validity of these examination methods regarding exercising without leaking urine and lumbopelvic pain. Another aim is to identify if exercising postpartum has effects on the function of the muscles and (less) leaking of urine and lumbopelvic pain/disability. Recruitment of 300 women approximately 8 weeks postpartum in the Region Västra Götaland. For testing interrater reliability on manual examination of the pelvic floor and the separation of the rectus abdominis by caliper two physiotherapists will examine the participants´ pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. The examinations will be tested for criterion validity using a questionnaire for pelvic floor function, lumbopelvic pain/disability and physical activity level. In an observational component of this study the questionnaire will also be used to evaluate the effects of exercising postpartum on the recovery of pelvic floor and abdominal muscles at 6, 9 and 12 months postpartum. This study will provide knowledge about the reliability of examination methods for pelvic floor function and separation of the rectus abdominis, their correlation to urinary leakage and pain/disability (criterion validity) and the effects of exercising on muscle function postpartum.

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