THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY TECHNIQUES IN THE SECOND STAGE OF LABOR ON PERINEAL TRAUMA IN NULLIPAROUS WOMEN REFERRING TO THE TEACHING HOSPITALOF EMAM KHOMEINI – KHALKHAL

Perineal trauma is common outcome of vaginal birth, and can cause short term
and long term problems for new mothers. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of
physical therapy techniques during child birth on severity and degree ofperineal ruptures and also its
effect on the amount of stitches required for perineal repair following perineal trauma in nulliparous
women.
Materials & Methods: This randomized clinical trial study (RCT) carried out on 120 nulliparous
women that expecting normal birth of singletonfetuses; they were randomly selected and divided into
three groups; two physical therapy techniques (warm compresses and massage perineal) and one
control groups ( 40 women for each group). All processes have done during the second stage of labor.
Midwife held a clean, wash and warm cloths to the mother’s perineum and her external genitalia for
the warm compress group, during and between pushes. Woman in the massage group received
massage and stretching of the perineum with each contraction. In the control group, women received
Ritgen's maneuver, routine and standard care for the second stage of labor. The data have been
analyzed with descriptive statistical methods, Anova, chi-square test and non parametric test, Kruskal -
Wallis, using SPSS 15/0 (p<0/05 was significant).
Result: Our finding indicated that there were not any significant differences regarding to the severity
and degree ofperineal ruptures (p= 0/513), the rate of the lacerations in the anterior perineal region
(p=0/134) and the amount of stitches required for perineal repair (p=0/775) among three groups.
Conclusion: The practice of the physical therapy techniques in the second stage of labor cannot
probably prevent from perineal trauma