A Randomized Clinical Trial to evaluate the Effect of Therapeutic Ultrasound and Low-level Laser Therapy on Perineal Pain following Vaginal Delivery with Episiotomy

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and objectives Vaginal delivery has an enormous amount of pressure on the perineum, the area between vagina and anus, which must stretch to accommodate the baby's head during its passage through the birth canal. During childbirth, the perineum may tear or the obstetrician may decide to incise to make wider opening for baby's head to pass, a procedure called as episiotomy. The area of episiotomy may be uncomfortable and painful for several days. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of therapeutic ultrasound and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on perineal pain following vaginal delivery with episiotomy. Materials and methods Sixty women, who underwent vaginal delivery with episiotomy, complaining of perineal pain were recruited and randomly allocated to two treatment groups. Physiotherapy intervention included cryo gel pad and therapeutic ultrasound in group A and cryo gel pad and lowlevel laser therapy in group B once daily for 3 consecutive days. Outcomes Measures were documented using visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and REEDA scale (redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge, approximation) for healing on 1st day preintervention and 3rd day postintervention respectively. Results The study results showed that there was statistically significant improvement postintervention in both the groups with p < 0.05, although therapeutic ultrasound with cryo gel pad showed better reduction in pain score and healing process as compared to low-level laser therapy. Conclusion Therapeutic ultrasound with cryo gel pad can be used to reduce perineal pain following vaginal delivery with episiotomy. How to cite this article Chougala A, Mahishale A. A Randomized Clinical Trial to evaluate the Effect of Therapeutic Ultrasound and Low-level Laser Therapy on Perineal Pain following Vaginal Delivery with Episiotomy. J South Asian Feder Obst Gynae 2015;7(3):152-156.