Progressive Changes in Lumbopelvic Alignment during the Three Month-Postpartum Recovery Period

Mako Fukano, Kozo Aisaka, Sayaka Nose-Ogura, Tomoyuki Fujii and Suguru Torii
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Mako Fukano: College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Saitama-shi 337-8570, Japan
Kozo Aisaka: Hamada Hospital, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
Sayaka Nose-Ogura: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Tomoyuki Fujii: Sanno Hospital, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan
Suguru Torii: Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa-shi 359-1192, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-7

Abstract: Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain is a common musculoskeletal problem, and postural changes are believed to be involved in these disorders. However, the lumbopelvic alignment changes in postpartum women remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether there are changes in lumbopelvic alignment following vaginal or cesarean delivery and when these alignment changes occur after delivery. Thirty postpartum females (PP group) and 20 nulliparous female controls (CTL group) underwent anteroposterior, lateral pelvic, and lower-back X-ray in a static upright position. Digital radiographic images were analyzed and three radiographic variables, the pelvic incidence, pubic symphysis width, and sacral slope, were measured. The pubic symphysis width of the PP group was significantly larger immediately and one month after childbirth (PP group: 6.0 ± 1.1 mm (immediately), 5.0 ± 1.2 mm (one month); CTL group: 3.4 ± 0.4 mm; F = 31.79, p < 0.001). The sacrum slope in the PP group was significantly larger than in the CTL group 1 month after childbirth (PP group: 39.9 ± 6.6°; CTL group: 32.8 ± 5.1°; F = 2.59, p = 0.05). A two-way analysis of variance indicated no statistically significant main effects or interaction effects between the delivery modes on the pubic symphysis width or the sacrum slope. This study suggested that the course of lumbopelvic alignment progressed towards recovery for at least one month, and that these changes were independent of the delivery method.

Keywords: postpartum; lumbopelvic pain; lumbopelvic alignment; vaginal delivery; cesarean delivery; X-ray image (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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