Effectiveness of physiotherapy on pain relief and functional recovery post-cesarean section

Abstract

Background: Cesarean section (CS) rates are rising globally, with associated postpartum complications significantly higher compared to vaginal delivery. Addressing these complications through optimized management and targeted physiotherapy is crucial for improving maternal outcomes and quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy on pain relief and restoration of functional activity in women after CS. Material and methods: 91 patients, who were admitted to an obstetric hospital for elective CS, were involved in the study. The control group (47 women) received standard pre- and postoperative supervision. The intervention group (44 patients), in addition to standard care, underwent physiotherapy, which included preoperative care (physiotherapy training, educational training), and postoperative exercises (breathing, circulation, and pelvic exercises, along with connective tissue massage). The results were analyzed after CS for 3 days. Results: A lower intensity of postoperative pain and easier walking from the 1^st day, a lower level of difficulty in performing functional activities on the 2^nd day (easier turning in bed and transition to a sitting position), faster recovery of intestinal motility due to the passage of flatus in 3.5 hours and the act of defecation after 10.0 hours, decreased requirement of extra analgesics by 4.21-fold (OR = 0.24; 95% CI 0.10–0.58; P = 0.02), and a significant reduction in the length of hospital stay (OR = 0.24; 95% CI 0.09–0.57; P = 0.02) were established. Conclusion: The study revealed the effectiveness of the proposed physiotherapy program in the early post-cesarean period in terms of reducing pain and improving restoration of the body’s functional activity.