Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Varicose Veins in Postpartum Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

The Department of Physical Therapy for Woman's Health, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University* and The Department of Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University**

Abstract

Abstract Background: Varicose Veins (VVs) is one of the common-est problems of women during pregnancy and postpartumpe-riods. Pregnancy has a vasodilatation effect on the veins of the lower limbs, after labor this effect should be reversed and veins return to normal, but in some cases it lasts further in the postpartum period and requires treatment. Aim of Study: The purpose ofthis study was to investigate the effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on varicose veins in postpartum women. Material and Methods: Thirty post-partum women com-plaining from varicose veins participated in this study. They were randomly distributed in two equal groups; Group A (control group): 15 women received a life style modification and advices and Group B (study group): 15 women received a life style modification and advices in addition to neuromus-cular electrical stimulation therapy 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks. Doppler ultrasound device for recording peak pop-liteal vein velocity and the Chronic Venous Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-20) for quality of lifewere used for assessment before and after treatment period. Results: Results showed that there was no significant difference in group A (control group) when comparing pre-treatment to post-treatment results regarding the popliteal peak vein velocity while there was a significant reduction regarding quality of life questionnaire CIVIQ-20, and when comparing pre-treatment to post-treatment results in group (B) (study group) there was significant increase regarding the popliteal peak vein velocity and a significant reduction re-garding the quality of life questionnaire CIVIQ-20. In addition there was no statistical significant difference between both groups regarding the popliteal peak vein velocity and quality of life questionnaire CIVIQ-20 when comparing post-treatment results, results also revealed that there was clinical difference and high percent of improvement in favor of group B (study group) than group A (control group) regarding both popliteal peak velocity and quality of life questionnaire CIVIQ-20.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that (NMES) has an effect on increasing venous blood flow and improving quality of life in postpartum women with varicose veins.

Keywords