The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of physical therapy approach in the antepartum and to propose an intervention protocol based on the visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain. Ten parturients in the first stage of labor were questioned about the pain by VAS. Based on the responses, we proposed a protocol VAS 1-3: kinesiotherapy, breathing techniques, relaxation and stimulation of walking; VAS 4-7: massage therapy, breathing techniques, relaxation and stimulation of walking; VAS 8-10: breathing techniques, relaxation and transcutaneous electrical stimulation. After the intervention, the volunteers were questioned again by VAS. The VAS data pre-and post-intervention were submitted to the paired t test, reaching an average value of 8.8 pre-intervention and 8.2 post-intervention, no statistical difference. The results obtained through quantitative analysis of pain showed no increase of the same until one hour after the intervention, which was considered positive, since due to the increasing expansion is expected to increase the pain. The proposed physical therapy protocol proved easy to apply. It can assist the therapist in choosing the most adequate to the reality of pre-delivery room. The physical therapy approach in the pre-partum seems to positively affect pain and maternal discomfort in the study group.
physical therapy specialty; pregnant women; labor, obstetric; pain; women's health
