Impaired Trunk Flexor Strength, Fatigability, and Steadiness in Postpartum Women

Purpose To determine whether postpartum women (vaginal and Cesarean delivery) have deficits in trunk flexor strength, fatigability and steadiness, compared with nulligravid women, up to 26 weeks postpartum. We hypothesized that postpartum women would be weaker, more fatigable and have greater torque fluctuations than controls, with Cesarean delivery showing greater deficits than vaginal delivery. Methods 22 control women (nulligravid) and 29 postpartum women (20-40 years, 19 who delivered via vaginal birth, 13 via Caesarian section) participated. Postpartum women were tested 8-10 and 24-26 weeks postpartum. Control women were tested 16-18 weeks apart. Maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) were performed at multiple trunk positions with the trunk flexor muscles. To determine trunk flexor fatigability, subjects performed intermittent isometric contractions at 50% MVC (6-s contraction, 4-s rest) in upright sitting until task failure. An MVC was performed during the fatiguing task (one/min) and at 10 and 20 minutes of recovery. Results At 8 and 26 weeks, postpartum women (groups pooled) were weaker at all trunk angles (38% & 44% respectively, p

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