Assessment of Effects of Kegel Exercises on Reduction of Perineal Pain after Episiotomy in Primiparous Women

Episiotomy is the most common surgery among women and pain resulted from episiotomy have been reported over 60%. The lack of effective control on pelvic and perineal body causes undesirable psychological and physiological effects. This study carried out with the aim of assessment of the effects of Kegel exercises on reduction of post episiotomy pain in primiparous women. This single blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 64 primiparous women referred to Imam Sajjad hospital of Yasouj، Iran in 2011 for delivery and episiotomy was performed for them. Women were randomly divided into two groups of case and control. Routine care and Kegel exercises were done for case group and routine care for control group. Data were gathered using a questionnaire and pain visual analogue scale. Pain severity، oral analgesic dose and frequency of analgesic use (mefenamic acid) were evaluated during the first 48 hours in both groups. Data were analyzed with SPSS software version 16، independent t-test and Pearson tests. P value less than 0. 05 was considered significant. The mean of pain severity after episiotomy based on visual analogue scale were 5. 9±0. 8 and 7. 9±0. 5 in the case and control groups، respectively. Mean of analgesic dose in case and control groups were respectively 0. 29±0. 80 and 1. 16±1. 39 mg per each time and frequency of analgesic use were respectively 0. 94±0. 92 and 4. 09±1. 03 times in case and control groups. Pain severity، oral analgesic dose and frequency of analgesic use were significantly less in case group (p<0. 05). The use of Kegel exercises after episiotomy is associated with less pain، analgesic consumption and frequency of analgesic use.