Effect of Combined Soft Tissue Mobilization and Low-Level Laser Therapy on Chronic Abdominal and Peri-Abdominal Pain in Postpartum Women After Cesarean Section: A Pilot Study

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a combined intervention of soft tissue mobilization (STM) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on chronic abdominal and peri-abdominal pain, functional status, and scar adhesion in postpartum women after cesarean section.Methods: Ten postpartum women within 24 months after cesarean delivery who reported chronic abdominal or peri-abdominal pain were enrolled and allocated to an experimental group (n= 5) or a control group (n= 5).The outcome measures included the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), and scar adhesion measured using an Adheremeter, from which the adhesion severity score was derived.The assessments were conducted at the baseline, after four weeks of intervention, and at a follow-up assessment four weeks after the end of treatment.Results: Although the statistical power was limited by the small number of participants, the experimental group showed potentially clinically meaningful changes.During the four-week intervention period, the NPRS score decreased by 4.40 points, exceeding the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID).In addition, the PSFS score increased by approximately three points, exceeding the MCID.The effect size estimates for the AS score indicated a medium-to-large change in the experimental group.Conclusion: These findings suggest that a combined intervention of STM and LLLT may have preliminary beneficial effects on pain reduction, functional improvement, and scar adhesion characteristics in postpartum women after cesarean section.Nevertheless, additional research including larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is required to confirm these results.