Physiotherapeutic Protocol Compared to Usual Care in the Treatment of Primiparas After Perineal Trauma

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Episiotomy; Perineal Laceration, Tear, or Rupture During Delivery; Perineal Tear Resulting From Childbirth; Perineal Tear and Episiotomy; Lacerations Perineal; Perineal Injury; Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury; Perineal Pain

• Registration Number: NCT07170007
• Lead Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) protocol associated with cryotherapy initiated in the immediate postpartum period in relieving pain in primiparous women who suffered perineal trauma during vaginal delivery. This is a hybrid effectiveness-implementation type 1 randomized controlled trial with economic evaluation, which will include 82 primiparous women who suffered a perineal tear of grade 2 or above or episiotomy during vaginal delivery. The study participants will be selected from among the women who gave birth at the Hospital das Clínicas in Ribeirão Preto and will be randomly assigned to participate in one of two study groups: the Control Group will receive the usual maternity care, that includes suturing the injury and analgesic medication, and the Intervention Group will receive the usual care combined with a physiotherapy protocol of PFMT and cryotherapy, starting in the immediate postpartum period and lasting 3 months. The primary outcome of the study will be the change in perineal pain intensity assessed using an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale; and the secondary outcomes will be self-reported pelvic floor dysfunction, recovery from injury, functionality, health-related quality of life, use of pain medication, genital self-image and implementation outcomes (satisfaction, acceptability, adequacy, feasibility, equity and adherence to the protocol). Assessments will be carried out by a group of health professionals, including physiotherapists and physicians, at 11 points up to 6 months after delivery. Two doctors from the service will be responsible for carrying out the transperineal ultrasound examination to assess the injury, which will be sent to a third international collaborating physician (SD) to assess the results blindly. The other assessments will be carried out by two physiotherapists.Descriptive statistics will be used, including the ANOVA test to confirm homogeneity between the groups, the chi-square test or Fisher's test for categorical variables and Student's t-test or Wilcoxon's non-parametric test for independent samples for quantitative variables.

Detailed Description

This study is a type 1 hybrid randomised controlled clinical trial of effectiveness-implementation, with economic evaluation and blinded assessor, which aims to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a physiotherapy protocol that combines pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) with cryotherapy, initiated immediately after vaginal delivery in primiparas who have suffered perineal laceration grade 2 or above or episiotomy.

Eighty-two women who gave birth at the Hospital das Clínicas of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School - USP will be recruited. Participants will be randomised into two groups: Control Group, which will receive only the usual maternity care (analgesic medication and sutures); and Intervention Group, which will receive, in addition to the usual care, the physiotherapy protocol.

The physiotherapy protocol consists of one in-person session during hospitalisation, which will include 20 minutes of cryotherapy and initial instructions on pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFM). After hospital discharge, 12 weekly PFMT sessions will be conducted remotely (online), with guidance for daily continuation of home exercises and application of cryotherapy as needed for perineal pain relief.

The primary outcome will be the intensity of perineal pain, assessed using an 11-point numerical rating scale at the following times: 6-10 hours postpartum, 30 minutes after initial intervention, weekly in the first month, fortnightly in the second month, and at 3 and 6 months postpartum.

Secondary outcome measures include self-reported pelvic floor dysfunction (Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire and Wexner Scale), anatomical and functional recovery of the PFM (transperineal ultrasound and vaginal palpation using the modified Oxford scale), functionality (International Physical Activity Questionnaire - IPAQ and functional limitation numerical scale), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-3L), use of analgesic medications, genital self-image (Female Genital Self-image Scale), gender-based violence (WHO-adapted questionnaire), and implementation outcomes (acceptability, adequacy, feasibility, and adherence to the protocol).

In addition, a comprehensive economic analysis will be conducted from the perspective of society, with a time horizon of 6 months, including cost-effectiveness analysis (clinical outcome: pain intensity) and cost-utility analysis (QALY). The costs evaluated will include interventions, health resources used (medications, tests, medical consultations, and additional physiotherapy sessions), complementary expenses (transportation and caregiver), and loss of productivity.

This protocol may offer a safe, non-pharmacological, effective, and potentially cost-effective intervention for the relief of perineal pain and prevention of pelvic floor dysfunction in primiparous women after vaginal delivery with perineal trauma, and may contribute significantly to public policies and clinical practices in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-08-19
• Status Verified: 2025-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-09-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-09-04
• Study First Posted: 2025-09-12
• Last Update Posted: 2025-09-12
• Study Start: 2025-09-30
• Primary Completion: 2027-08-31
• Study Completion: 2029-03-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 82

Inclusion Criteria

• The study will include female at birth aged 18 years or older, primiparous (no previous pregnancy after 16 weeks), who have suffered a perineal laceration of grade ≥2 or episiotomy, with ≥37 weeks of gestation at the time of delivery, who have not used testosterone in the last 6 months, with preserved cognitive ability, no history of neurological diseases, no symptoms of vaginal or urinary tract infection and no perineal diseases such as fistulas, genital mutilation, previous perineal surgery for pelvic floor dysfunction or Crohn's disease. According to the Robson 10-Group Classification System, only women belonging to group 1 (nulliparous women with a single vital cephalic pregnancy, ≥37 weeks of gestation in spontaneous labor) and group 2a (nulliparous women with a single vital cephalic pregnancy, ≥37 weeks of gestation who had labor induced) will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

• Women with conditions such as severe pre-eclampsia or infections, sick newborns or women who refuse to take part in the study will not be included. Participation is voluntary and participants can withdraw from the study at any time.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in perineal pain intensity	Up to 6 months postpartum	The change in the intensity of perineal pain will be assessed using an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS), in which the participant will quantify her level of pain on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means no pain and 10 means the worst pain imaginable; a change of 2 points in the NRS will be considered clinically significant. The pain assessment will be done by asking the participants: "What is the level of pain in your intimate area at the moment?" and "Do you believe you have taken any measures that could have improved or worsened your pain today?". If the answer is yes, the participant will be asked to specify the measure she believes has worsened or relieved the pain. The assessment will be carried out in person during hospitalization, and after discharge, via text message at the end of the day (around 6pm).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-reported symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction	Up to 6 months postpartum.	Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire, comprising 42 questions in four domains: bladder, bowel, sexual function, and pelvic organ prolapse. The higher the score, the worse the function assessed.; The bladder section consists of 15 questions, resulting in a final score of 0-45. The bowel section consists of 12 questions, resulting in a final score of 0-34, and the prolapse section consists of 5 questions, resulting in a final score of 0-15, and the sexual function section consists of 10 questions, two qualitative and eight quantitative, with variable scores and a final score of 0-21. A change of 1 point in each section of the scale will be considered clinically significant.; This assessment will be carried out at four points in time: At baseline; 6-8 weeks after delivery; 3 and 6 months after delivery, remotely.
Anal incontinence	Up to 3 months postpartum.	The Wexner Scale will be used to assess anal incontinence. The final score ranges from 0 to 20, and the higher the value, the greater the degree of incontinence of the participant. The Wexner scale will be assessed at two points in time: At baseline, and 3 months after delivery.
Integrity of the levator ani muscle	Up to 3 months postpartum	The integrity of the the levator ani muscle will be assessed using four-dimensional transperineal ultrasound (TPUS). This evaluation is performed offline reconstructing an axial view of the pelvis from the beforementioned ultrasound volume. A tomographic view is used, and the levator ani muscle (LAM) is defined as injured if there is a discontinuity between the LAM and the pubic bone in the plane of minimal hiatal dimension and the 2 slices cranially with 2.5 mm slice intervals. This is evaluated during maximum pelvic floor contraction, or at rest if contraction is not possible. The LAM will be classified as normal, unilateral avulsion, bilateral avulsion. This exam will be performed twice; shortly after birth and 3 months post partum.
Microtrauma of the levator ani muscle	Up to 3 months postpartum	The integrity of the the levator ani muscle will be assessed using four-dimensional transperineal ultrasound (TPUS). Microtrauma is defined as permanent injury to the muscle fibers without overt avulsion. It is diagnosed during maximum strain (Valsalva maneuver) where a 3D reconstruction of the levator ani muscle (LAM) allows for measuring the levator hiatus (the opening between the puborectalis muscle posterolaterally and the symphysis pubis anteriorly). An area of \> 25cm2 is used as a cut off. The results will be presented as total area of the levator hiatus during contraction, relaxation and Valsalva manuever (cm2); anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus during contraction, relaxation and Valsalva manuever (mm); transverse diameter of the levator hiatus during contraction, relaxation and Valsalva manuever (mm) This exam will be performed twice; shortly after birth and 3 months post partum.
Obstetric anal sphincter muscle injury (OASI)	Up to 3 months postpartum	The integrity of the the levator ani muscle will be assessed using four-dimensional transperineal ultrasound (TPUS). The examination intends to evaluate the sphincter apparatus to assess signs of scarring indicating an OASI that has been adequately repaired and of muscle defects indicating either an occult OASI, not identified primarily, or a suboptimal healing.; These measures are evaluated through the same sonographic method as described above, though an axial plane where 6 slices of equal intervals will be examined. Diagnosis of a persistent sphincter defect is the loss of continuity of the circular internal and/or external sphincter of more than 30 degrees.; Each slice will be recorded as normal, scar or defect; whenever a defect (\>30 degrees) are identified, the size (degrees) are recorded for each of the six slices.; The presence of a defect in 4 or more of the six slices is defined as an occult OASI. It will be performed shortly after birth and 3 months post partum.
Self-perception	Up to 3 months postpartum	The self-perception assessment will be carried out using the 'Questionnaire on knowledge and perception of the female pelvic floor', consisting of three parts, which assess the participant's knowledge of the anatomy and function of the pelvic floor muscles, symptoms and treatments for pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, and perception. Each statement has a score ranging from 0 to 3, depending on the statement, generating a maximum score of 40 points. The higher the score obtained, the greater the level of knowledge and perception of contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles. This assessment will be carried out at baseline and 3 months after delivery.
Function of the pelvic floor muscles	Up to 3 months postpartum	The assessment of pelvic floor muscle function will also be performed using the Modified Oxford Scale through vaginal palpation. This scale grades pelvic floor muscle function on a scale of 5 degrees, with degree 0: absence of muscle contraction, degree 1: slight muscle contraction; degree 2: weak contraction; degree 3: moderate contraction; degree 4: good contraction; degree 5: strong contraction. Vaginal palpation will be performed with participants in a supine position with knees and hips flexed and abducted and feet resting on the stretcher. Participants will be asked to perform maximum voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. Participants will be instructed to perform 3 contractions, and the evaluator will rate the last contraction. The higher the score obtained, the better the function of the pelvic floor muscles. This assessment will be carried out after the end of treatment (3 months postpartum), in person.
Functionality	Up to 6 months postpartum.	Functionality will be assessed by estimating the limitations and restrictions of the parturient in performing activities during hospitalisation and after discharge of participants due to perineal trauma, using a numerical rating scale where 0 represents no difficulty and 10 represents inability to perform the activity; the higher the score, the worse the functionality. The activities questioned will be: turning over in bed, picking up the baby (lying in bed, sitting in bed, standing), breastfeeding (lying down, sitting on the bed, standing), changing the baby, sitting on the bed, getting out of bed, walking, sitting on the toilet, urinating, defecating, performing intimate hygiene after urinating or defecating, getting up from the toilet, and bathing.; Functionality will be assessed at baseline; 6-8 weeks after delivery; 3 and 6 months after delivery.
Level of physical activity	Up to 6 months postpartum.	The level of physical activity will be assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Version, which consists of three questions about daily physical activity, in order to determine the frequency and duration of the activity. The first question relates to strenuous activities (running, playing football, heavy housework), the second to moderate activities (swimming, dancing, gardening). The third question asks how often and for how long the person takes a continuous 10-minute walk.; Through this questionnaire, participants will be classified as sedentary, insufficiently active, active, or very active.; This assessment will be carried out at baseline; 6-8 weeks after delivery; 3 and 6 months after delivery.
Health-related quality of life	Up to 6 months postpartum.	Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the EQ-5D-3L instrument, which comprises two parts: a descriptive system and a visual analog scale. The descriptive system consists of five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression), where health states are classified with a five-digit number representing the level of severity in each dimension, making it possible to identify 243 health states. The health states identified will be converted into utility using the Brazilian tariff. Utility ranges from -0.2 to 1, with -0.2 representing the worst state of health and 1 representing the best state of health. The visual analog scale ranges from 0 to 100, where participants will self-report their state of health. This assessment will be carried out at baseline; 6-8 weeks after delivery; 3 and 6 months after delivery.
Use of medication	Up to 6 months postpartum.	Medication use will be monitored in a way that all participants will be asked to record the type and dose of medication used, the duration of intervals and pain before and after administration in a self-reported medication diary that will be provided to participants at baseline, and the blinded evaluator will collect this information via phone calls at the following times: 6-8 weeks after randomization; 3 months after delivery; and 6 months after delivery.
Genital self-image	Up to 3 months postpartum.	The participants' genital self-image will be assessed using the female genital self-image scale, resulting in a final score that ranges from 7 to 28 points. A score higher than 22 classifies women as satisfied with their genital self-image.; Genital self-image will be assessed at baseline and 3 months after delivery.
Acceptability	Up to 3 months postpartum	Acceptability will be assessed using the Intervention Acceptability Measure, which consists of four questions scored from 1 to 5, where 1 means 'strongly disagree' and 5 means 'strongly agree,' resulting in a final score of 4 to 20 points. The higher the score, the better the acceptability. Acceptability will only be assessed 3 months after delivery, or after the last session in the event of dropouts.
Appropriateness	Up to 3 months postpartum	Appropriateness will be assessed using the Intervention Appropriateness Measure, which consists of four questions scored from 1 to 5, where 1 means 'strongly disagree' and 5 means 'strongly agree,' resulting in a final score of 4 to 20 points. The higher the score, the better the appropriateness. Appropriateness will only be assessed 3 months after delivery, or after the last session in the event of dropouts.
Intervention's feasibility	Up to 3 months postpartum	Feasibility will be assessed using the Intervention Feasibility Measure, which consists of four questions scored from 1 to 5, where 1 means 'strongly disagree' and 5 means 'strongly agree,' resulting in a final score of 4 to 20 points. The higher the score, the better the feasibility. Feasibility will only be assessed 3 months after delivery, or after the last session in the event of dropouts.
Participant's satisfaction	Up to 3 months postpartum	The participant's satisfaction with the protocol and its outcome will be assessed using a numerical rating scale scored from 0 to 3, where 0 represents complete dissatisfaction, 1 represents moderate dissatisfaction, 2 represents moderate satisfaction, and 3 represents complete satisfaction, resulting in a final score of 0-15. The higher the score obtained, the greater the satisfaction. Satisfaction will only be assessed 3 months after delivery, or after the last session in the event of dropouts.
Participant's adherence	Up to 3 months postpartum	The participant's adherence to treatment will be assessed using a questionnaire with questions about the continuous use of resources, participation in online sessions, and the practice of pelvic floor muscle training at home, whether there are any modifications that the participant believes are necessary to the protocol, as well as the retention and dropout rates of participants. In cases of withdrawal, a question about the reason for withdrawal will be added. Adherence will only be assessed 3 months after delivery, or after the last session in the event of dropouts.
Gender-based violence	Up to 3 months postpartum	Gender-based violence will be assessed using the "Adapted Questionnaire: Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence (WHO)", composed of 14 questions covering psychological, physical and sexual violence. The assessment of violence will be carried out at baseline and 3 months after delivery, where the latter will include the question "Were you forced to have sexual intercourse before the end of the 40-day protection period?" If the answer is positive, it will be considered sexual violence.
Economic evaluation	Up to 6 months postpartum	The economic evaluation will be carried out from society's perspective. The costs to society will be made up of the costs of the interventions, health care costs (use of resources consumed by the women), patient/family costs (complementary expenses, informal care and transport costs) and lost productivity (estimated from the hours of absenteeism from work, paid and unpaid, of the woman and her companion), and will be identified by a self-reported cost diary, collected 6 to 8 weeks after randomization, 3 and 6 months after delivery.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto; 🇧🇷 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil