PHYS THER
Vol. 90, No. 3, March 2010, pp. 348-355
DOI: 10.2522/ptj.20090139
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Research Reports

An Exercise and Education Program Improves Well-Being of New Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Emily Norman, Margaret Sherburn, Richard H. Osborne and Mary P. Galea

E. Norman, BPhysio, PGrad Cert (Exercise for Women), MPhysio, is Grade 4 Physiotherapist (Continence and Women's Health) and Manager of Allied Health Clinical Research, Eastern Health, Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia.
M. Sherburn, BAppSci (Physio), MWomen's Health, PhD, is Senior Lecturer, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
R.H. Osborne, BSc, PhD, is Professor of Public Health, School of Health and Social Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
M.P. Galea, BAppSci (Physio), BA, PhD, is Professor of Clinical Physiotherapy, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.

Address all correspondence to Dr Galea at: m.galea{at}unimelb.edu.au.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a physical therapy exercise and health care education program on the psychological well-being of new mothers.

Design: This was a randomized controlled trial.

Participants: Primiparous and multiparous English-speaking women ready for discharge from The Angliss Hospital postnatal ward were eligible for this study. Women who were receiving psychiatric care were excluded. One hundred sixty-one women were randomized into the trial.

Intervention: The experimental group (n=62) received an 8-week "Mother and Baby" (M&B) program, including specialized exercise provided by a women's health physical therapist combined with parenting education. The other group (education only [EO], n=73) received only the same educational material as the experimental group.

Main Outcome Measures: Psychological well-being (Positive Affect Balance Scale), depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), and physical activity levels were assessed at baseline, after 8 weeks (post-program), and then 4 weeks later.

Results: There was significant improvement in well-being scores and depressive symptoms of the M&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 symptoms at 8 weeks, and this effect 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% by the end of the intervention.

Limitations: Although this study provides promising short-term (4-week) outcomes, further work is needed to explore whether the intervention effects are maintained as sustained psychological and behavioral benefits at 6 months.

Conclusions: A physical therapy exercise and health education program is effective in improving postnatal well-being. Routine use of this program may reduce longer-term problems such as postnatal depression.


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