Effectiveness of Fu’s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique for postpartum perineal pain: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPerineal pain after natural childbirth is a common problem among women after delivery, significantly impairing patients’ quality of life and increasing familial burden. This study evaluates the efficacy of Fu’s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique (FSN + MET) on peri...

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Main Authors: Yuchun Shao, Zhanxiang Lin, Yuan Shi, Ling He, Dongmiao Han, Zicai Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1609500/full
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author Yuchun Shao
Zhanxiang Lin
Zhanxiang Lin
Yuan Shi
Ling He
Dongmiao Han
Zicai Liu
author_facet Yuchun Shao
Zhanxiang Lin
Zhanxiang Lin
Yuan Shi
Ling He
Dongmiao Han
Zicai Liu
author_sort Yuchun Shao
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundPerineal pain after natural childbirth is a common problem among women after delivery, significantly impairing patients’ quality of life and increasing familial burden. This study evaluates the efficacy of Fu’s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique (FSN + MET) on perineal wound pain after natural childbirth.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial was conducted at Yuebei People’s Hospital. Seventy women experiencing perineal wound pain following spontaneous vaginal delivery in the hospital’s Obstetrics Department between January 2023 and December 2024 were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group (35 per group) using a random number table. The control group received conventional rehabilitation plus MET, while the intervention group received FSN in addition to conventional rehabilitation and MET. Pain improvement was assessed after 5 days of treatment.ResultsThe efficacy of FSN + MET was assessed using the Number Rating Scale (NRS), Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Fugl-Meyer Lower Limb Motor Function Score (FMA), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and satisfaction survey of treatment effect. Before treatment, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding age, days of gestation, postpartum pain scores, NRS score, FMA lower limb score, ADL, SAS, and satisfaction (P > 0.05). Following treatment, the FSN + MET group showed significantly greater improvements in NRS, FMA, ADL, and SAS scores compared to the control group (P < 0.05). This demonstrates that FSN + MET is superior to conventional methods in alleviating perineal wound pain, improving mobility, enhancing quality of life, and reducing anxiety in patients after spontaneous delivery.ConclusionFSN + MET effectively reduces postpartum perineal pain and improves functional recovery.
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spelling doaj-art-d2bb9144fa0544b9b3933a23f6111ad42025-08-20T03:44:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-08-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16095001609500Effectiveness of Fu’s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique for postpartum perineal pain: a randomized controlled trialYuchun Shao0Zhanxiang Lin1Zhanxiang Lin2Yuan Shi3Ling He4Dongmiao Han5Zicai Liu6Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yuebei People’s Hospital, Shaoguan, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shaoguan First People’s Hospital, Shaoguan, Guangdong, ChinaSchool of Rehabilitation, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, ChinaShaoguan First People’s Hospital, Shaoguan, Guangdong, ChinaSchool of Rehabilitation, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Therapy Teaching and Research, Gannan Healthcare Vocational College, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shaoguan First People’s Hospital, Shaoguan, Guangdong, ChinaBackgroundPerineal pain after natural childbirth is a common problem among women after delivery, significantly impairing patients’ quality of life and increasing familial burden. This study evaluates the efficacy of Fu’s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique (FSN + MET) on perineal wound pain after natural childbirth.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial was conducted at Yuebei People’s Hospital. Seventy women experiencing perineal wound pain following spontaneous vaginal delivery in the hospital’s Obstetrics Department between January 2023 and December 2024 were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group (35 per group) using a random number table. The control group received conventional rehabilitation plus MET, while the intervention group received FSN in addition to conventional rehabilitation and MET. Pain improvement was assessed after 5 days of treatment.ResultsThe efficacy of FSN + MET was assessed using the Number Rating Scale (NRS), Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Fugl-Meyer Lower Limb Motor Function Score (FMA), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and satisfaction survey of treatment effect. Before treatment, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding age, days of gestation, postpartum pain scores, NRS score, FMA lower limb score, ADL, SAS, and satisfaction (P > 0.05). Following treatment, the FSN + MET group showed significantly greater improvements in NRS, FMA, ADL, and SAS scores compared to the control group (P < 0.05). This demonstrates that FSN + MET is superior to conventional methods in alleviating perineal wound pain, improving mobility, enhancing quality of life, and reducing anxiety in patients after spontaneous delivery.ConclusionFSN + MET effectively reduces postpartum perineal pain and improves functional recovery.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1609500/fullFu’s subcutaneous needlingmuscle energy techniquepostpartum perineal painrandomized controlled trialperineal rehabilitationlateral episiotomy
spellingShingle Yuchun Shao
Zhanxiang Lin
Zhanxiang Lin
Yuan Shi
Ling He
Dongmiao Han
Zicai Liu
Effectiveness of Fu’s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique for postpartum perineal pain: a randomized controlled trial
Frontiers in Medicine
Fu’s subcutaneous needling
muscle energy technique
postpartum perineal pain
randomized controlled trial
perineal rehabilitation
lateral episiotomy
title Effectiveness of Fu’s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique for postpartum perineal pain: a randomized controlled trial
title_full Effectiveness of Fu’s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique for postpartum perineal pain: a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Effectiveness of Fu’s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique for postpartum perineal pain: a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of Fu’s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique for postpartum perineal pain: a randomized controlled trial
title_short Effectiveness of Fu’s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique for postpartum perineal pain: a randomized controlled trial
title_sort effectiveness of fu s subcutaneous needling combined with muscle energy technique for postpartum perineal pain a randomized controlled trial
topic Fu’s subcutaneous needling
muscle energy technique
postpartum perineal pain
randomized controlled trial
perineal rehabilitation
lateral episiotomy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1609500/full
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