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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Massage | Research

Physical therapy intervention for breast symptoms in lactating women: a randomized controlled trial

Authors: Kuan-Yin Lin, Wei Shao, Yi-Ju Tsai, Jeng-Feng Yang, Meng-Hsing Wu

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Background

Therapeutic ultrasound, education, and massage are the most common physical therapy interventions provided to mothers with breast symptoms. However, there is insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of the combination of these interventions. This study aimed to explore the effects of the combination of therapeutic ultrasound, education, and massage on breast symptoms in lactating women.

Methods

This study was a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Postpartum lactating women aged from 21 to 45 with breast symptoms were recruited and randomly allocated to one of three groups (ultrasound group, sham group, and usual care group). The severity of breast symptoms (pain, redness, lump, general malaise), breast engorgement, breast hardness, body temperature, breast temperature, and milk volume were assessed at baseline (T1), immediately post-intervention (T2), and at 3 months following baseline (T3).

Results

A total of 37 participants were included in the study (ultrasound group n = 12; sham group n = 12; usual care n = 13). The severity of breast symptoms (i.e., pain, lump, and general malaise) as well as breast engorgement, were significantly improved in the ultrasound group at T2 when compared to T1, and these improvements were sustained at T3. The severity of breast engorgement was significantly lower in the ultrasound group when compared to the usual care group at T2. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the ultrasound and sham groups for all outcomes at any assessment time points.

Conclusions

Physical therapy interventions may be beneficial in relieving breast symptoms in lactating women. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings of this study.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04569136); Date of registration: 29/09/2020.
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Metadata
Title
Physical therapy intervention for breast symptoms in lactating women: a randomized controlled trial
Authors
Kuan-Yin Lin
Wei Shao
Yi-Ju Tsai
Jeng-Feng Yang
Meng-Hsing Wu
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-06114-2

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