Effectiveness of Stretching Exercises versus Soft Tissue Mobilisation in PostPartum Females with Coccydynia

Background: Coccydynia is a painful disorder of the coccyx that can have various etiologies and is associated with pain, discomfort at the base of the spine. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of stretching exercises and soft tissue mobilisation in postpartum females with coccydynia to reduce pain, improve range of motion, and functional ability. Methodology: In this single-blinded controlled trial, data were collected from Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore in 10 months. Patients pre-diagnosed with coccydynia and radiographic imaging, postpartum females after 2-3 months of delivery, office workers, aged between 20 to 35 years, having C-section, were included in the study. Patients having severe post-operative pain, active pelvic or abdominal infections, ovarian cysts, fibroids, obstructive endometrial polyps, or neurological conditions were excluded. Group A was given soft tissue mobilisation and Group B was treated with stretching (23 in each group). Treatment was given twice a week for three weeks, with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes. Outcomes were pain intensity, range of motion, functional ability measured by Numeric Pain Rating Scale, goniometer, and Oswestry Disability Index, respectively. Paired sample t-test was applied for within-group analysis and independent t-test for between-group analysis. Results: Mean score of pain rating scale for soft tissue mobilisation exercises group pre-value was 7.11±0.9, post-value was 2.14±1.4. Mean score of Oswestry disability index pre-value was 80.52±10.96 and post-value was 19.09±6.8. Lumbar spine range of motion pre-value was 24.74±7.1 for flexion, 16.78±2.9 for extension, 7.14±1.4 for lateral flexion, 5.48±1.4 for rotation, and post-value was 45.87±6.3 for flexion, 29.91±3.4 for extension, 15.61±2.7 for lateral flexion, 14.35±1.8 for rotation. Mean score of pain rating scale for stretching exercises pre-value was 5.88±1.02 and post-value was 4.52±1.6. Oswestry disability index before was 65.17±9.5 and after was 37.35±8.8. Lumbar spine range of motion of stretching exercises was 28.87±5.4 for flexion, 20.48±4.7 for extension, 8.34±2.2 for lateral flexion, and 2.97±1.3 for rotation were 40.61±6.1, 23.70±4.3, 9.96±2.5, and 9.87±2.02 for flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation (p≤0.005). Conclusion: Both stretching exercises and soft tissue mobilisation groups show effective results; however, soft tissue mobilisation shows greater improvement in pain, functional ability, and lumbar spine range of motion.