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Low Back Pain Intensity and Core Muscle Strength After Different Delivery Modes

Testing the Association Between Low Back Pain Intensity and Core Muscle Strength in Women Who Underwent Cesarean or Vaginal Deliveries

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05493891
Enrollment
36
Registered
2022-08-09
Start date
2021-06-28
Completion date
2023-08-05
Last updated
2025-10-02

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain and Core Muscle

Brief summary

Cesarean delivery (CD) may trigger an increase in low back pain (LBP) intensity and induce core muscle weakness. This study will assess the correlation between low back pain intensity and core muscle strength of transverse abdominis and Lumbar multifidus among women who underwent CD and compare it with those who experienced vaginal delivery.

Detailed description

Cesarean delivery (CD) is one of the most common surgical procedures in obstetrics, and it is also one of the oldest medical procedures. The rise in the rate of cesarean sections is one of the most striking hallmarks of modern obstetrics. In Egypt, the prevalence of CD has increased dramatically over the last decade, with the most recent Egypt Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) reporting a rate of 52 percent, implying that cesarean sections may be overused or utilized for improper reasons. The two deep local core muscles are the transversus abdominis and the lumbar multifidus muscles. The definition of Core muscle strength is the active ability of these muscles to not only produce but also, maintain stresses to provide stability for the spine through management of the intra-abdominal pressure. LBP prevalence in mothers undergoing cesarean delivery was higher compared to its counterpart in mothers undergoing vaginal delivery. The related mechanisms for LBP during the postpartum period following cesarean or vaginal deliveries may be overweight and obesity, postural adaptations, and stressful positions that mothers assume during either delivery or lactation.

Interventions

VAS is a reliable and valid method for assessing the intensity of low back pain (LBP)

DEVICEPressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU)

PBU is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the maximal voluntary isometric contraction of both lumbar multifidus and transversus abdominis muscles (core muscle strength)

Sponsors

South Valley University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 35 Years

Inclusion criteria

1. All women are either primiparous or multiparous. 2. Their ages ranged from 18 to 35 years. 3. All participants had a body mass index (BMI) of not more than 29.5, and a waist-to-hip ratio of not more than 1. 4. Participants were assessed between the 6th week to the 12th week postnatal. 5. All participants were able to continue all assessment procedures. 6. They were medically stable.

Exclusion criteria

1. Women who were below 18 years old or above 35 years old. 2. Women who had a (BMI) above 29.5 or a waist-to-hip ratio above 1. 3. Women who did not continue all assessment procedures. 4. Women who had a past history of specific LBP as those who were diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, lumbar disc prolapse, or structural scoliosis.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The intensity of LBPAssessment will be done 6-12 weeks after Cesarean OR Vaginal deliveriesThe intensity of low back pain is a standardized method to quantify the severity of low back pain
The maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the transversus abdominis muscleAssessment will be done 6-12 weeks after Cesarean or Vaginal DeliveriesThe maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) is an objective standardized method with high reliability used to evaluate and quantify muscle strength
The maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the lumbar multifidus muscleAssessment will be done 6-12 weeks after Cesarean or Vaginal DeliveriesThe maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) is an objective standardized method with high reliability used to evaluate and quantify muscle strength
The correlation coefficient between low back pain intensity and core muscle strengthAssessment will be done 6-12 weeks after Cesarean or Vaginal DeliveriesThe correlation coefficient between two variables of outcome is a valid statistical method to the association between them

Countries

Egypt

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026