Effect of Phonophoresis and Pelvic Brace on Symphysis Pubis Pain after Delivery, ALIAA E. HAMED, MAGDA S. MORSY and MOHAMED F. ABOELEINEN
Abstract
Background: Many women suffering from symphysis pu-bis pain after delivery. Phonophoresis combined with pelvic brace are effective in treating symphysial pain. Aim of Study: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of phonophoresis and pelvic brace on symphysis pubis pain after vaginal delivery. Patients and Methods: This study was carried on forty multiparous women suffering from symphysis pubis pain for at least 4 months after delivery. They were selected randomly from the outpatient clinic of orthopedic at El-Kaser El-Ainy Hospi-tal. Their ages were ranged from (25-35) years old, their body mass index (BMI) didn’t exceed 30kg/m2. And their parity was ranged from (2-4) children. All patients were divided random-ly into 2 groups equal in number, study group (A) & control group (B). Study group (A)was consisted of 20 patients. Each patient in this group had received phonophoresis on her pubic area for 10 minutes, 3 times/week for 8 weeks. Also, each pa-tient in this group was asked to perform strengthening exercises for abdominal & pelvic floor muscles, posture correction and posterior pelvic tilting exercises for 60 minutes, 3 times/week for 8 weeks. Additionally to this, each patient was advised to wear a pelvic brace all the day except during sleeping or taking a shower throughout the treatment course. While control group (B) wasconsisted of 20 patients. Each patient in this group was asked to perform strengthening exercises for abdominal & pel-vic floor muscles, posture correction and posterior pelvic tilting exercises for 60 minutes, 3 times/week for 8 weeks as in group (A). Also, each patient was advised to wear a pelvic brace all the day except during sleeping or taking a shower throughout the treatment course. Symphyseal pain was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) and cortisol level in blood plasma before and after treatment. Results: The result of this study revealed that, both groups study group (A) & control group (B) showed statically (p-val-ue <0.001) significant decrease in VAS scores and decrease in cortisol level in blood plasma after treatment, but the percent of decrease in VAS scores and decrease in cortisol level in blood plasma were more pronounced and more noticeable in study group (group A) when compared to control group (group B). this mean that, phonophoresis combined with pelvic brace are more effective than exercises only in relieving symphyseal pain after delivery. Conclusion: Phonophoresis and pelvic brace were effective in reliving symphysis pubis pain after delivery.