Therapeutic effect of manual massage on early postpartum rectus abdominis separation and postpartum depression

Rectus abdominis separation (DRA) affects pelvic stability and body image. No studies have explored the effects of manual massage on early postpartum DRA and postpartum depression.

To analyze the curative effect of massage on early postpartum DRA and its impact on postpartum depression and thus its ability promote the overall psychosomatic rehabilitation of postpartum women.

Data were retrospectively collected on 70 primiparous women with postpartum DRA who underwent rehabilitation at the Postpartum Rehabilitation Center of Huzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital from October 2022 to September 2023. The patients were divided into the Group S (35 cases, biomimetic electrical stimulation treatment) and Group L (35 cases, biomimetic electrical stimulation combined with manual massage treatment). Baseline data, the edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS) score, and the visual analog scale (VAS) scores for rectus abdominis distance, waist circumference, and lower back pain before and after treatment were compared.

No significant differences were found in the baseline data, rectus abdominis distance, waist circumference, and VAS and EPDS scores between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05). After treatment, the distance between rectus abdominis and waist circumference in Group L were significantly smaller than those in Group S (P < 0.05). Furthermore, lower back pain (VAS score) and the EPDS score in Group L were significantly lower than those in Group S (P < 0.05).

Manual massage can significantly reduce early postpartum DRA, waist circumference, and back pain and improve the patient's mental state and postpartum depression.