Vanessa Patrícia Soares de Sousa

Gait variables comparison between pregnant women with and without lumbopelvic pain

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The various gestational adaptations may lead to changes in the gait pattern. Also, the lumbopelvic pain in this period can impact the gait dynamics. The objective of this study was to compare gait variables between pregnant women with and without lumbopelvic pain, according to the gestational trimesters, and to compare the outcome variables between the second and third gestational trimesters. METHODS: Analytical and cross-sectional study with 277 pregnant women. They were divided into two groups, considering the gestational trimester as a grouping factor. Subsequently, the two groups were subdivided considering the absence or presence of lumbopelvic pain. All participants were submitted to the evaluation protocol: identification form, visual analog scale, and gait assessment using the Balance Master System®. RESULTS: The chronological age averages of the second and third-trimester groups were, respectively, 29.9±4.6 and 29.7±3.7 years. When comparing gait variables between pregnant women with and without lumbopelvic pain, a statistically significant difference was observed only for the gait velocity (p=0.04) in the third-trimester group. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that women in the third trimester with complaints of lumbopelvic pain have reduced gait velocity when compared to those without pain.

Comparação da qualidade de vida em gestantes com disfunção sexual

PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between sexual function and quality of life in pregnant women living in two cities of Northeastern Brazil. METHODS The sample consisted of 207 pregnant women. The data were collected through a questionnaire containing questions about socio-demographic, gynecological and obstetrical data, body and sexual knowledge. Quality of life was assessed by applying the Ferrans & Powers Quality of Life Index (QLI Ferrans and Power). Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (IFSF). Data were statistically analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS The pregnant women studied had a median age of 30 years (quartile 26-33 years) and were approximately at the 26th gestational week. A significant decrease in the monthly frequency of sexual relations of the couple was observed, with a median of 12 to 4 times per month (Z=-10.56; p<0.001). Sexual dysfunction was detected in 35.7% of the pregnant women studied, whose quality of life was lower when compared to women with unchanged sexual function (Z=-2.9; p=0.004). CONCLUSION The results of this study show that sexual dysfunction negatively affected the quality of life of pregnant women, and this should be an important aspect for review during prenatal consultations.PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between sexual function and quality of life in pregnant women living in two cities of Northeastern Brazil. METHODS: The sample consisted of 207 pregnant women. The data were collected through a questionnaire containing questions about socio-demographic, gynecological and obstetrical data, body and sexual knowledge. Quality of life was assessed by applying the Ferrans & Powers Quality of Life Index (QLI Ferrans and Power). Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (IFSF). Data were statistically analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS: The pregnant women studied had a median age of 30 years (quartile 26-33 years) and were approximately at the 26th gestational week. A significant decrease in the monthly frequency of sexual relations of the couple was observed, with a median of 12 to 4 times per month (Z=-10.56; p<0.001). Sexual dysfunction was detected in 35.7% of the pregnant women studied, whose quality of life was lower when compared to women with unchanged sexual function (Z=-2.9; p=0.004). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that sexual dysfunction negatively affected the quality of life of pregnant women, and this should be an important aspect for review during prenatal consultations.

Quality of sleep in pregnant woman with low back pain

Introduction Pregnancy is characterized by several changes in her body. These changes contribute to the emergence of low back pain, which may influence the quality of sleep during pregnancy. Objective To compare the quality of sleep among pregnant women with and without low back pain during pregnancy, examining the relationship between two variables. Materials methods Thirty volunteers aged between 19 and 36 years, divided into control group (CG – n = 16) and Study Group (SG – n = 14), residents in the cities of Natal, were evaluated in the second trimester of pregnancy. To sleep evaluation were used to index the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Low back pain was evaluated using the pressure algometer, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index. Statistical analysis used the Shapiro Wilk test, Student’s T test for independent samples and Pearson correlation test. Results The mean gestational and chronological ages were 28.2 ± 3.4 years and 19.9 ± 3.7 weeks, respectively. Sleep quality was lower in SG (8.21 ± 4.8) when compared to CG (5.94 ± 1.7) and was statistically significant (P = 0.021). Analyzing the relationship between sleep quality and pain intensity, it was observed that the variables have a positive correlation between them (r = 0.372, P = 0.043). Conclusion Our findings indicate that sleep quality is decreased in women with low back pain compared to those without pain.