Musculoskeletal problems and health perceptions of women who applied to the orthopedic clinic after cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the musculoskeletal problems and health perceptions of women who applied to the orthopedic clinic after cesarean delivery.

METHODS

This study used a descriptive and cross-sectional design. It was conducted with 243 women who sought treatment in an orthopedic clinic between January 2023 and May 2024. Women who agreed to participate in the study, who had a cesarean section for the first time, who did not have any musculoskeletal problems before the cesarean section, who had musculoskeletal problems for a year or more after the cesarean section, and who sought treatment in the orthopedics and traumatology outpatient clinic were included in the study. Data were collected through the "Personal Information Form," the "Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire," and the "Nottingham Health Profile."

RESULTS

The average age of the participating women was 32.61±6.89 years. Of all the women, 44.8% experienced pain mostly in the back and lower back region within the last year following cesarean delivery. Nottingham Health Profile scores were negatively affected by several variables such as age, weight gained during pregnancy, BMI, and musculoskeletal disorders (p<0.050). An analysis of the effect sizes showed that Cohen's d values for back and lower back regions according to pain experience within the last year were 1.07 and 1.07, respectively, indicating a high effect size.

CONCLUSIONS

Musculoskeletal problems, particularly in the back and lower back regions, negatively affect women's overall health perception after cesarean delivery.