Comparison of pelvic floor dysfunction, functional status, fatigue, depression and quality of life levels in postpartum women according to clinical pilates practice during pregnancy

This study was planned to compare the levels of pelvic floor dysfunction, functional status, fatigue, body awareness, low back pain, depression, and quality of life in the postpartum period of women who performed and did not perform clinical pilates training during pregnancy. 69 healthy women in the 6th week postpartum were carried out in the study including pilates training (n: 34) and control groups (n: 35). The Pilates training group were mothers who had performed 2 sessions of clinical pregnancy pilates per week during at least 12 weeks of their pregnancy. The control group was mothers who had not performed clinical pregnancy pilates. The sociodemographic form, Body awareness questionnaire (BAQ), Pelvic floor distress inventory (PFDI), Postpartum quality of life scale (PQLS), Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS), Postpartum functional status inventory (PFSI), Multidimensional fatigue assessment scale (MFAS) and Visual analog scale (VAS) for low back pain were applied once to all mothers participating in the study and results were compared between the two groups. It was observed that the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the subjects did not differ significantly between the pilates training and control groups (p>0.05), except for the education level (2=6.239; p=0.012) and working statues (2=4.666; p=0.031). When the pilates training group and the control group were compared, it was determined that the BAQ (Z=4.043; p<0.001) and POLS (Z=3.283, p=0.001) results were significantly higher in the pilates training group. Among the sub-dimensions of the PFDI, only the Colorectal-anal distress ınventory (CRADI) median score of control group was significantly higher than pilates training group (Z=2.180; p=0.029), while there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of other sub-dimensions and scale total score median (p>0.05). EPDS (p<0.001) and VAS (Z=3.920; p<0.001) scores were significantly lower in the pilates training group. There was no significant difference between PFSI and MFAS of groups. In conclusion, it was observed that while women who performed clinical pregnancy pilates training had higher quality of life and body awareness levels and lower depression level, back pain severity and pelvic floor colorectal-anal dysfunction functional status and fatigue levels did not differ than women who did not performed clinical pregnancy pilates training in the postpartum period. It can be said that clinical pregnancy pilates has healing effects and can reduce and prevent problems that may occur in the postpartum period. Keywords: Pregnant, pilates, postpartum period, pelvic floor, low back pain