Influence of postural pattern according to the Godelieve Denys-Struyf method on pain and postpartum depression in the immediate postpartum

ABSTRACT | This study aimed to evaluate the relation between the postural pattern according to the Godelieve Denys-Struyf (GDS) method with postpartum depression and pain in immediate postpartum women. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 29 women at 1–3 postpartum days. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) assessed depression and Visual Numerical Scale assessed pain score (from 0=no pain to 10=the most intense pain). Postural pattern was categorized into groups according to the deviation plane: axial (anteromedial, posteromedial, anteroposterior, and posteroanterior postures) and relational (anterolateral and posterolateral postures) or mixed, considering upper and lower limbs. Participants’ age ranged from 19 to 41 years, body mass index from 21.4 to 43.8 kg/m 2 . The EPDS scored from 10 to 26 points. In total, 52% women reported pain, but the pain score was similar among postural pattern groups (p=0.77) and not correlated with EPDS (p=0.88). Women’s postural patterns were: mixed (45%), relational (38%), and axial (17%). EPDS score was higher for relational pattern group than axial group (20.45±1.63 vs 15.00±3.24; p=0.01). In conclusion, the mixed postural pattern was the most frequent. The relational postural pattern group (anterolateral and posterolateral posture) presented a higher depression score than the axial postural pattern group. No association was found between postural patterns and the pain score or between pain and postpartum depression.