Influence on the functional performance of the combined therapy of Low Laser Therapy and TENS in the cesarean section with pain: a randomized clinical trial.
Postpartum period. Phototherapy. Eletrotherapy. Physical Functional Performance.
In the immediate puerperium of women undergoing cesarean sections, the main complaint is pain in the abdominal region resulting from the postpartum surgical procedure, generating discomfort and impact on the necessary activities of the puerperal woman with the baby and movements in her own bed. For a better quality of life for puerperal women who are in the first postpartum days, it is important that the physiotherapist performs a conduct acting on the main complaints considering the clinical condition of the patient. Low Intensity Laser (LLLT) and TENS are non-invasive resources that are being used in scientific research in studies aiming at analgesia and favoring applicability in isolated clinical practices in postpartum women, however, no studies were found in the literature that verified the effects of combined therapy of these resources in post-cesarean section women and their influence on functional performance. This study aims to evaluate the influence on functional performance of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation combined with LLLT therapy in women undergoing cesarean section with pain. The research is characterized as a randomized and blind clinical trial. The sample will consist of women in the immediate puerperium after cesarean section, following the eligibility criteria proposed in the study and randomly distributed into four groups: control (GC), placebo control (GCP), group with application of TENS combined with LLLT ( GTL) and group with application of TENS (GT). All groups will be submitted to three evaluations (medical data, Global Perception of Improvement Scale, Numerical Pain Scale, Digital Algometer, 2-minute Walk Test and Functional Independence Measure). From the data tabulated and analyzed in the SPSS 22.0 program, descriptive analysis will be performed to characterize the participants, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be applied, mixed repeated measures, attributing significance of 5% in all tests. It is expected, with the results of this research, to find scientific evidence on the functional performance to perform activities that require movements after combined therapy of TENS with LLLT in the cesarean section. The research is already in the initial phase of collection, with initial data already available, but without definition because the data are insufficient for a more precise analysis. If the objectives of this study are achieved, this work will make it possible to suggest a combined therapy of TENS and LLLT in puerperal women undergoing cesarean sections.