Physical therapy exercise program can cut postnatal depression risk

Washington, March 23 (ANI): A new research has shown that a physical therapy exercise and health education program can effectively reduce the risk for postnatal depression (PND).

Previous studies have shown that general exercise improves mood states in younger and older women, improves well-being, and leads to a reduction in depressive symptoms in mothers diagnosed with PND.

However, no studies have evaluated the benefits of group physical therapy exercise approaches to improve psychological health outcomes of women postnatally.

"Giving birth involves many changes in a woman's physical, emotional, and social health," said Mary P. Galea, BAppSci (Physio), Professor of Clinical Physiotherapy in the School of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, one of the authors of this study.

"A group exercise program led by a physical therapist, who is an expert in improving and restoring motion to people's daily lives, can help mothers who may be at risk for PND improve their well-being and enable them to better care for their children," she added.

In this study, 161 English-speaking women who were being discharged from the postnatal ward of The Angliss Hospital were randomly assigned to an experimental Mother and Baby (M and B) Program or an education only (EO) group.

Once a week for 8 weeks the M and B group, comprised of 62 women, undertook 1 hour of exercise with their babies, facilitated by a women's health physical therapist, combined with 30 minutes of parenting education delivered by health care professionals.

Seventy-three women were assigned to the EO group and received only the same written educational materials. Twenty-six of the women did not receive either of the allocated interventions.

The results of the study showed that there was significant improvement in well-being scores and depressive symptoms of the M and B group compared with the EO group over the study period.

More specifically, there was a significant positive effect on well-being scores and depressive scores at 8 weeks, and this score was maintained 4 weeks after completion of the program.

The number of women identified as at risk for postnatal depression pre-intervention was reduced by 50 percent by the end of the intervention.

The study has been published in the March issue of Physical Therapy, (PTJ) the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). (ANI)