New moms beat the blues and improve well-being, physical exercise

The exercise in the first three months after delivery may reduce the risk of postnatal depression (PND), and increased well-being, a study by the University of Melbourne led to the Angliss Hospital has revealed.

In a world first study, 161 women without symptoms of depression after delivery before were divided into two groups to test the effect of an exercise conducted by a physiotherapist and the welfare of education.

The experimental group received eight weeks, “Mother and Child” program, and specialized exercises women’s health physiotherapist, combined with parental education.

In the second group, “education only” participants received written materials.

Participants in both groups were evaluated for psychological well-being (with positive affect Balance Scale), depressive symptoms (with Postnatal Depression Scale Edinburgh) and physical activity at baseline, after eight weeks to complete the program and four weeks after the final.

Study Coordinator, Emily Norman University Department of Physical therapist and health of women in the Angliss Hospital, Ferntree Gully, said: “There was a significant improvement in the welfare and symptom scores of depression in mothers and babies group in relation to education “only” group during the study period. ”

“This positive effect continued four weeks after the program, he said.

“The number of women identified as at risk for postpartum depression before surgery was reduced by 50% in the mother and baby group at the end of the intervention.”

Professor Mary Galea, University of the physiotherapy department and lead author of the study “Improving the welfare of new mothers, this program was based therapy shown to have a real impact in reducing risk of PND.

“However, further studies are needed to determine whether the effects of the intervention and improve welfare are maintained beyond the first three months,” he said.

Postpartum depression is a major health problem affecting up to 13% of all mothers in the world, with most cases from the first three months after delivery.

The study was published in the March issue of Physical Therapy, the journal of the American Physical Therapy Association.