Immediate Effect of Craniosacral Therapy on Postpartum Neck Pain—An Experimental Study

Background: After giving birth, women may experience postpartum neck pain, which is frequently brought on by hormonal changes, physical strain during labor, or bad posture while tending to the newborn. In order to encourage relaxation, lessen pain, and enhance general well-being, craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on method that focuses on releasing tension in the craniosacral system, which includes the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Purpose: To assess immediate effects of CST on postpartum neck pain. It sought to evaluate changes in the intensity of neck pain and neck muscle contraction prior to treatment and 24 hours following CST. Pain severity was assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and neck muscle contraction was assessed using a pressure biofeedback unit (PBU). Setting: Maternity wards of a tertiary-care hospital in Karnataka, India. Participants: Postpartum women aged 21-40 years who were experiencing neck pain in the early puerperal period. Research design: A single-group pre- and post-intervention experimental study. Intervention: A single 30-min session of CST. Main outcome measures: NPRS and craniocervical flexion test against PBU. Assessments were conducted pre-intervention and 24 h post-intervention. The data analysis was carried out using SPSS 29.0 software and Microsoft Excel 2019. Results: CST resulted in a statistically significant reduction in postpartum neck pain, with the NPRS median score decreasing from 6 to 1 (76.14% reduction, p < 0.01). Additionally, there was a 4.40% increase in deep neck flexor muscle activation, as indicated by the PBU median value increasing from 27 mmHg to 28 mmHg (p < 0.01). Conclusion: A single 30-min CST session significantly reduced postpartum neck pain and improved deep neck flexor muscle activation. These findings highlight CST as an effective immediate intervention for pain relief and muscle function enhancement in postpartum women.