Table 2 Current physical therapy practice for antepartum and postpartum women (N = 137)
From: Physical therapists’ experiences and perceptions of antepartum and postpartum care
Variables | n (%) |
|---|---|
New antepartum and postpartum patients treated per month (on average) | |
< 5 | 124 (90.5) |
5-9 | 6 (4.4) |
10-19 | 4 (2.9) |
20-29 | 1 (0.7) |
> 49 | 2 (1.5) |
Follow-up antepartum and postpartum patients per month (on average) | |
< 5 | 130 (94.9) |
5-9 | 2 (1.5) |
10-19 | 2 (1.5) |
20-29 | 1 (0.7) |
> 49 | 1 (0.7) |
Women with pregnancy/postpartum-related disorders were referred from | |
Division of Orthopedics | 56 (40.9) |
Division of Neurology | 4 (2.9) |
Division of Neurosurgery | 3 (2.2) |
Division of Plastic Surgery | 1 (0.7) |
Division of General Medicine | 1 (0.7) |
Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology | 1 (0.7) |
Division of Urology | 2 (1.5) |
Division of Family Medicine | 6 (4.4) |
Division of Rehabilitation Medicine | 75 (54.7) |
Division of Obstetrics & Gynecology | 36 (26.3) |
Other | 20 (14.6) |
Most common type of pregnancy/postpartum-related disorders seen in an average month | |
Bladder dysfunction (including urinary incontinence) | 11 (8.0) |
Breast engorgement | 7 (5.1) |
Blocked duct | 9 (6.6) |
Breast pain | 1 (0.7) |
laxity | 2 (1.5) |
Low back pain | 84 (61.3) |
Pelvic pain | 16 (11.7) |
Diastasis recti | 1 (0.7) |
Carpal tunnel syndrome | 4 (2.9) |
Other | 2 (1.5) |
Assessmenta | |
History taking | 130 (94.9) |
Observation | 116 (84.7) |
Palpation | 116 (84.7) |
Examination of swelling | 33 (24.1) |
Pain assessment | 93 (67.9) |
Mobility test, range of motion | 71 (51.8) |
Muscle strength / endurance test | 57 (41.6) |
Joint play movement test | 41 (29.9) |
Neurological test | 43 (31.4) |
Flexibility test | 56 (40.9) |
Functional activity test | 74 (54) |
Special test | 48 (35) |
Disease-specific questionnaires | 10 (7.3) |
Other | 3 (2.2) |
Physiotherapy intervention provideda | |
Therapeutic exercise | 105 (76.6) |
Manual therapy | 105 (76.6) |
Modality | 72 (52.6) |
Taping | 68 (49.6) |
Health education | 110 (80.3) |
Other | 2 (1.5) |
Frequency of service delivery per diagnosis, mean (SD) | 4.1 (3.3) |
Treatment effects (0-10), mean (SD) | 7.0 (1.7) |