Effects of Body Mechanics Training on Shoulder-Back Pain and Breastfeeding Ergonomics in Breastfeeding Mothers

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of body mechanics training on shoulder-back pain and breastfeeding ergonomics for breastfeeding mothers. The study is a randomized controlled intervention study. The study will be conducted in the postpartum ward of Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital. The required sample size for this study was calculated using a priori power analysis using the G*Power 3.1 program. In the calculation, a minimum of 94 people were calculated as 47 for the intervention group and 47 for the control group for a 95% confidence interval and 80% power. The study will be applied to breastfeeding mothers who have given birth vaginally; women who have given birth by cesarean section will not be included. The initial data will be collected face-to-face. Breastfeeding status and pain levels will be evaluated before the mothers are discharged. It will be stated that the follow-up data of the intervention group will be collected via telephone interview and an interview-monitoring plan will be created together with the mother. The mothers in the intervention group will be called at 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum to evaluate their back and neck pain and breastfeeding ergonomics. The mothers in the control group will be called simultaneously with the intervention group at 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum to evaluate their back and neck pain. "Demographic and Health Data Form", "Breastfeeding Ergonomics Scale", "Visual Analog Scale" for pain assessment, Low Back Pain Function Scale, and neck disability questionnaire form will be used to collect data. After the research data are obtained, the data will be analyzed using SPSS 25.0 (Statistical, Package for. Social Sciences) program. Follow-up findings of the intervention and control groups; Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and ANCOVA will be applied to measurements with normal distribution in at least three independent group comparisons (within groups), and Kruskal Wallis analysis will be applied to measurements that do not have a normal distribution.

Inclusion criteria

• Mother should be 18 years of age or older
• Have given birth vaginally
• Mother should be breastfeeding
• Have good general physical health (no health problems),
• Have no physical disabilities
• Have no chronic disease (no circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, etc.)
• Have not received any physical therapy or manual therapy in the last 6 months
• Have no history of chronic pain related to the musculoskeletal system (fibromyalgia, chronic low back or neck pain, etc.)
• Have a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
• Have a healthy newborn
• Plan to continue breastfeeding during the study period
• Have no past or current health problems that may affect breastfeeding (breast surgery, use of medications that may affect breastfeeding, etc.)
• The most less than primary level education

Exclusion criteria

• Mothers with any medical history
• Mothers with postural problems (previously diagnosed serious postural disorders such as scoliosis, kyphosis or lordosis)
• Having an orthopedic or neurological disorder diagnosed before or during pregnancy (herniated disc, nerve compression)
• Having had a Caesarean section
• Mothers not wanting to breastfeed
• Mothers not wanting to participate in the study
• Situations where the mother and baby must be separated
• Mothers planning to start a different exercise program during the study