The Effect of Physical Exercise After Childbirth

Postpartum women are recommended to engage in physical activity including moderate intensity aerobic and strengthening exercises for at least 150 minutes within one week. The benefits of postpartum exercise include strengthening abdominal muscles, increasing energy, preventing postpartum depression, reducing stress, improving sleep quality and losing excess weight gained during pregnancy. However, activity levels of women who have given birth are reported to be very low, despite the great benefits of exercise on physical and mental health. In a meta-analysis, it was stated that exercise can be used for counseling and therapeutic purposes to improve postpartum quality of life and reduce fatigue.

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Key information

Conditions

Postpartum Behavior Fatigue Motor Activity Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Although studies evaluating sleep quality, quality of life and fatigue of postpartum women have been found in the literature, no study evaluating the effect of postpartum physical exercise in Turkey has been found yet. Accordingly, this study was planned to evaluate the effect of physical exercise on sleep quality, quality of life and fatigue in postpartum women.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Be over 18 years of age
Be able to read and write in Turkish
Be in the 24th postpartum hour
Have had a vaginal delivery
Have had a single live birth -Have had a single live birth
Be primiparous
Have given birth at term -Have given birth at term
Accept to participate in the study
Have no musculoskeletal disorder preventing exercise
Have no chronic disorder preventing exercise
Using a smart phone

Exclusion criteria

Having a regular exercise program
Having a baby in intensive care
Having a psychiatric treatment in the postpartum period
Being multiparous
Willing to voluntarily leave the study
Did not perform the exercises more than two days in a week

Treatment and study plan

Exercise

Behavioral

In line with the Puerperium and Newborn Care Guide, an exercise implementation protocol will be prepared by obtaining the opinion of a group of 10 experts on the appropriateness of the exercises and when they should be started. In this direction, a brochure and a video will be created for the participants to practice the exercises. A pilot study will be conducted in a group of 10 people on the use of the brochure and video, and the brochure and video will be finalized. Participants will be asked to do these exercises for 30 minutes a day, five days a week for eight weeks. A reminder message will be sent to the exercise group by the researchers to remind them of the exercises and provide motivation for eight weeks.

Primary outcomes

Physical exercise increases sleep quality in postpartum women

Time frame: 8 week

Physical exercise improves sleep quality in postpartum women. Participants will be asked to do these exercises for 30 minutes a day, five days a week and for eight weeks in accordance with the brochure and video prepared for the exercise. An evaluation will be made with Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index at the 24th hour and in the fourth week after birth. The final evaluation will be made at the end of the eighth week.

Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index was developed by Buysse et al. in 1989. Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Ağargün et al. in 1996. It consists of a total of 24 questions, 19 of which are answered by the individual and five of which are answered by the relative/roommate. The 19 questions answered by the individual are included in the scoring. It consists of seven components that assess sleep duration, subjective sleep quality, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, the degree to which sleep interferes with daytime activities and the use of sleeping pills.
Physical exercise increases the quality of life in postpartum women

Time frame: 8 week

The WHOQOL-BREF-TR will be evaluated at 24 hours and 4 weeks after delivery. The final evaluation will be made at the end of the 8th week. The effect of exercise on quality of life will be evaluated.

WHOQOL-BREF-TR is a scale developed by the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Group to assess how people perceive their quality of life. The Turkish validity and reliability study of the questionnaire was conducted by Eser and colleagues in 1999. It is a shortened version of the 100-question quality of life scale reduced to 26 questions. The 27th question is a national question. While answering the questions, people are asked to think about the last 15 days of their lives. It is a five-point Likert-type scale. Scores are calculated in four domains and the first two questions are general health assessments and are not used to calculate quality of life.
Physical exercise reduces fatigue in postpartum women

Time frame: 8 week

Participants will be asked to do the exercises for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, and for eight weeks. The Piper Fatigue Scale will be used to evaluate the 24th hour and fourth week after birth. The final evaluation will be made at the end of the eighth week. The effect of exercise on reducing fatigue will be evaluated.

Piper Fatigue Scale: In 1998, it was developed by F. Piper and colleagues. Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Can et al. in 2001. It consists of 22 items and four sub-dimensions. When calculating the score, each item is scored between 0-10 and the total score is divided by the number of items. To calculate the subscale scores, the items in each subscale are summed and divided by the number of items in the relevant subscale. A high score on the scale indicates a high level of fatigue. While the total cronbach alpha coefficient of the scale is 0.94, the value of the subscales varies between 0.87-0.91.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Ümran ERCİYES

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905432070138

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

ümran erciyes

Other

Collaborators

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Physical Exercise on Sleep Quality, Quality of Life and Fatigue in Postpartum Women

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2026
First posted: May 25, 2025
Registry last updated: Jun 3, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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