An exercise and education program improves well-being of new mothers: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

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.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00361478.