Ultrasound Quantitative Assessment of the Effects of Yoga on Early Postpartum Pelvic Organ Position Recovery.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

This study examines the effectiveness of yoga intervention on the early postpartum recovery of pelvic organ positions.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted from May to November 2020, involving women who had vaginal deliveries and underwent pelvic floor ultrasound examinations. The control group received no intervention, whereas the experimental group participated in weekly 60-min yoga sessions from 1 week to 3 months postpartum. Pelvic organ positions, including the bladder neck, uterus, and rectal ampulla, were measured via ultrasound at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver at 42 days and 3 months postpartum. The effectiveness of yoga was assessed using t tests.

RESULTS

A total of 128 women participated, with 66 in the control group and 62 in the experimental group. There were no significant differences between groups in age, parity, BMI, or fetal weight (p > 0.05). At 42 days postpartum, there were no significant changes in bladder neck and uterine positions at rest, except for a significant decrease in rectal ampulla position in the control group (p < 0.01). During the Valsalva maneuver, the experimental group showed significant improvement in all pelvic organ positions at 3 months compared with 42 days (p < 0.001), with better outcomes than the control group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Yoga intervention supports early postpartum recovery of pelvic organ positions.