Comparative effects of home-based stabilization and Kegel exercises on low back pain, disability and quality of life in postnatal females

Abstract

Background: Lower back pain is the most common musculoskeletal postnatal problem and effects the quality of life in postnatal women. Hormonal changes occur in pregnant females and due to which they experience hormonal induced hyper-mobility which results low back pain and decrease joint stability. The optimal biomechanics restoration is amongst goal of physiotherapy of lower back pain in postnatal women.

Objective: To find out the comparative effects of home based stabilization and kegel exercises on low back pain, disability and quality of life in postnatal females.

Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Family Hospital in Lahore. 22 postpartum mothers were divided into two groups ; Home-based stabilization exercises and kegel exercises. For six months, each exercise was done three times daily with 10 repetitions and a holding period of 5 to 10 seconds. The outcome was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index for pain-related disability and the visual analogue scale for lower back pain and life's quality of life using the Short Form 36. Before and after the treatment's first six weeks, all results were evaluated. The data was examined using SPSS 21.

Results: According to the study, the statistically significant p value for the pretreatment session of the two groups' visual analogue scales was 0.762, which was higher than the statistically significant p value for the post treatment session, which was 0.384 for both groups' pain intensity. Pretreatment session for both groups' Oswestry disability indices had a statistically significant p value of 0.805, which was higher than post treatment session's statistically significant p value of 0.719 for both groups' disabilities. The statistically significant value for both groups' SF36 pretreatment sessions was 0.620, which was lower than the value for both groups' SF36 post treatment sessions, which was 0.894.

Conclusion: The results of the current study showed that while both regimens were equally successful in reducing low back pain and pain-related impairment, there was no discernible difference in quality of life.