EFFECT OF SCAR RELEASE TECHNIQUES ON CHRONIC SCAR PAIN AND MOBILITY POST CESAREAN SECTION

EFFECT OF SCAR RELEASE TECHNIQUES ON CHRONIC SCAR PAIN AND MOBILITY POST CESAREAN SECTION

Purpose of the study:

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of scar release techniques on chronic scar pain and mobility post cesarean section.

Hypothesis:

• H0: There is no effect of scar release techniques on chronic scar pain and mobility post cesarean section.
• HA: There is effect of scar release techniques on chronic scar pain and mobility post cesarean section.

A vicious impediment on quality of life including psychological and functional disability, and interference with baby care and bonding may occur among women who experience chronic post-caesarean section pain (CPCSP) .

Structural alterations of the skin and subcutaneous tissues with scarring result in reduced mobility and viscoelasticity that could cause compression of the sensory receptors and nerve fibers and disrupt their signaling. The viscoelastic properties could potentially be modified when the skin and scars are stressed and/or strained by manual therapies and this can affect the sensitivity threshold of the mechanosensitive and nociceptive receptors.

There are limited studies about the effect of various scar release techniques on chronic post cesarean section scar pain and mobility and their impact on quality of life on the affected women . So, this study will be helpful and of valuable benefits for medical services organizations and increase body of knowledge of physical therapists in scientific field.

This study will be conducted on forty women suffering from chronic post cesarean section scar pain and restricted scar mobility , they will be referred from department of Obestetrics and Gynaecology in Elmansoura International Hospital, Egypt.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women with a well healed, old , transverse cesarean section scar (more than 6 months resulted in chronic scar pain).
• Pain can be intermittent or constant at rest or with activity, and it is reported to be at least at a level of about 3/ 10 on visual analogue scale at recording sites will be marked on the C-section scar at 2.5 cm intervals .
• Women identified that the pain is either located in the cesarean section scar or caused by palpation of scar and it presents since the time of surgery not prior to the cesarean section.
• Their ages will range from 25-35 years old.
• Their BMI will be 18.5-29.9 kg/ m².
• Voluntary acceptance to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women will be excluded if they have :
• Acute and subacute cesarean section.
• Delayed wound healing.
• History of abdominal or pelvic cancer.
• Active pelvic or abdominal infection.
• Skin irritation/inflammation at the site of scar.
• Currently pregnant women.