Muscle Function After Childbirth

Launched by CARROLL UNIVERSITY · Sep 28, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, titled "Muscle Function After Childbirth," is studying how childbirth affects muscle control and strength in women. The researchers want to understand the differences in muscle function between women who have given birth for the first time (postpartum) and women who have never been pregnant (nulligravid). In total, 78 women will participate, attending two sessions about a week apart to undergo tests that measure their muscle strength and control in the legs and trunk, as well as their levels of physical activity.

To be eligible for this study, women must be postpartum after their first child and generally healthy. However, those with certain health conditions, like significant orthopedic issues or chronic diseases, won’t be able to participate. Women who have never been pregnant can also join as control participants, provided they meet similar health criteria. If you decide to take part in this study, you can expect to complete some assessments related to your muscle function, helping researchers learn more about postpartum recovery and muscle health.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Post-partum
• • Primiparous (this is their first child)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • multiple gestation
• • prescription anti-inflammatory/pain medications that are taken daily
• • significant orthopedic conditions that would contraindicate performance of the fatigue task (such as fractures, severe scoliosis, etc)
• • cardiovascular \& pulmonary disease
• • neuromuscular health conditions (such as diabetes, neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, seizures, etc)
• • history of previous abdominal surgery (with the exception of Cesarean delivery)
• • Nulligravid Women (Controls)
• • Women from the surrounding community will also be recruited to serve as controls
• • Nulligravid women will meet the same inclusion/exclusion criteria as the postpartum women, with the exception of never having been pregnant