Back Massage for Postpartum Fatigue and Maternity Blues After Cesarean Birth

NCT07867561 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: BACKMASSAGE-RCT-2025-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of back massage applied after elective cesarean birth on postpartum fatigue and maternity blues. Women were randomly assigned to either a back massage group or a control group. The intervention group received a 30-minute back massage after the first postoperative mobilization, while the control group received routine postpartum care only. Postpartum fatigue and maternity blues were assessed on the second postoperative day before discharge.

Conditions

Postpartum Fatigue; Maternity Blues

Keywords

Back Massage; Cesarean Birth; Postpartum Fatigue; Maternity Blues; Postpartum Care; Nonpharmacological Intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Postpartum Fatigue Assessed by the Postnatal Accumulated Fatigue Scale

  The Postnatal Accumulated Fatigue Scale consists of 13 items and three subscales. Total scores range from 0 to 39, with higher scores indicating greater postpartum fatigue.

  48 hours after cesarean birth

• Maternity Blues Assessed by the Maternity Blues Scale

  The Turkish version of the Maternity Blues Scale consists of 28 items and five subscales. Higher scores indicate higher levels of maternity blues.

  48 hours after cesarean birth

Study Arms (2)

Back Massage Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to the Back Massage Group received routine postpartum care plus a 30-minute back massage. The massage was administered after the first mobilization at the sixth postoperative hour following elective cesarean birth. Postpartum fatigue and maternity blues were assessed on the second postoperative day before discharge.

Behavioral: Back Massage

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to the Control Group received the hospital's routine postpartum care only and did not receive any additional intervention. Postpartum fatigue and maternity blues were assessed on the second postoperative day before discharge.

Interventions

Back Massage BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the Back Massage Group received a 30-minute back massage in addition to routine postpartum care. The massage was administered after the first mobilization at the sixth postoperative hour following elective cesarean birth. The intervention was delivered by the second researcher. Participants continued to receive the hospital's standard postpartum care throughout the study.

Back Massage Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Women who underwent elective cesarean birth
• Women with a single healthy newborn
• Women who did not have a negative response to massage or touch interventions
• Women with intact skin and tissue integrity in the back area where the massage was applied

You may not qualify if:

• Women with communication problems
• Women who underwent cesarean birth under general anesthesia
• Women diagnosed during pregnancy or birth with complications such as oligohydramnios, preeclampsia, heart disease, diabetes, or placenta previa
• Women who developed postpartum complications such as hemorrhage or hypertension
• Women whose newborn required admission to the neonatal intensive care unit
• Women who received additional analgesic or narcotic medication other than the routine postoperative analgesic treatment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kocaeli University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kocaeli University

Kocaeli, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Officials

• Sena Dilek Aksoy, Ph.D.

  Kocaeli University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: Due to the nature of the intervention, participants and the researcher who administered the back massage could not be blinded. Outcome assessments were performed by a third researcher who was blinded to group allocation.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery

Model Details: Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel groups: the back massage group or the control group. Participants in the back massage group received a 30-minute back massage in addition to routine postpartum care, while participants in the control group received routine postpartum care only.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 2, 2026
• First Posted: October 9, 2026
• Study Start: May 10, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 10, 2026
• Study Completion: May 10, 2026
• Last Updated: October 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)