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Examining the factors influencing postpartum musculoskeletal pain: a thorough analysis of risk factors and pain assessment indices

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Abstract

Background

Musculoskeletal disorders after childbirth are common, but current studies often have a narrow focus, concentrating on particular areas and neglecting a thorough evaluation of pain locations and overall severity. This research aimed to determine the occurrence, spread, severity, and root causes of musculoskeletal discomfort in females during the 6–8 week period after giving birth, focusing on investigating the link between pain and posture.

Methods

This study collected data from 432 postpartum women, 6–8 weeks post-delivery, focusing on ten posture angles captured photographically and analysed using Exbody software. Participants also filled out structured questionnaires on pregnancy history, the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) scores, physical activity patterns, and involvement in household and neonatal care tasks.

Results

In our research, 49.8% of the respondents experienced pain after childbirth in different regions of their bodies. Utilising SF-MPQ, the mean Pain Rating Index was 7.35 (SD = 5.93) and Present Pain Intensity and Visual Analog Scale was 3.13 (SD = 2.09). Among the evaluated postural angles, only the Q-angle exhibited a noteworthy correlation with knee discomfort. Individuals with less involvement in household and newborn care tasks had a significantly lower occurrence of postpartum pain, with a decrease of 76% (OR = 0.243, p = 0.001). Similarly, those who shared these responsibilities had a 53% decreased likelihood (OR = 0.468, p = 0.008) of experiencing postpartum pain.

Conclusion

Many postpartum women experience moderate-intensity pain in various body regions. Pain's correlation with posture was limited. Reducing physical strain during infant care notably decreased postpartum pain, underscoring the need for holistic support for postpartum women.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants and staff of related facilities who cooperated in this study.

Funding

This work was funded by Shaanxi Science and Technology Association (Grant No. 2021SF-215).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China

    Meng Li, Jingyu Bu & Tian Liu

  2. Xi’an People’s Hospital (Xi’an Fourth Hospital), Xi’an, People’s Republic of China

    Meng Li, Dan Li, Xinwen Zhang, Yuanyuan Liu, Heng Wang, Lan Wu & Ke Song

  3. Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China

    Jingyu Bu

  4. The Key Laboratory of Neuro-Informatics and Rehabilitation Engineering of Ministry of Civil Affairs, Institute of Health and Rehabilitation Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China

    Tian Liu

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  1. Meng Li
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Correspondence to Tian Liu.

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Li, M., Li, D., Bu, J. et al. Examining the factors influencing postpartum musculoskeletal pain: a thorough analysis of risk factors and pain assessment indices. Eur Spine J 33, 517–524 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-023-08008-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-023-08008-5

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