A Comparative Study of Knee Joint Proprioception Assessment in 12-Week Postpartum Women and Nulliparous Women

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 15; no. 11; p. e48101
• Main Authors: Ratnani, Grisha R, Patil, Shubhangi, Phansopkar, Pratik, Deshmukh, Nikita S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto Cureus Inc 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Age groups; Injuries; Knee; Ligaments; Musculoskeletal diseases; Musculoskeletal system; Pregnancy; Proprioception; Software; Womens health
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48101
• ISSN: 2168-8184

IntroductionProprioception is one's capacity to perceive bodily position, alignment, and movement. Several connective tissues, such as skin, ligaments, joint capsules, and muscles in the body, contain proprioceptive sensory receptors. Joint elasticity results from hormonal variations, notably the peak relaxin hormone during pregnancy, which also affects proprioceptive receptors. The musculoskeletal system may be affected by hormones and anatomical changes brought on by pregnancy, including joint laxity and modifications to posture and gait. The capacity to perceive the joint position and movement, or proprioception, may be impacted. To comprehend the impacts of pregnancy on joint function and postpartum women's rehabilitation options, this study compares knee joint proprioception in women who gave birth 12 weeks ago to nulliparous women. The study aims to assess and compare the degree of alteration in knee joint proprioception in 12-week postpartum females.MethodologyA total of 160 participants were assessed during the entire study. Women from 18 to 35 years of age were included in the study. Women with any present knee joint injury, multiparty, or relevant surgical history were excluded. The procedure was performed under the author's surveillance at the Department of Community Health Physiotherapy. The knee joint reposition test was used to assess the knee joint proprioceptive error among two groups (80 each), including nulliparous women and the other 12-week postpartum women. An image tool provided by the University of Texas Health Science Centre at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) was created and offers the tool as computer software or a digital application for handling medical pictures and associated data, software 3.0 was used to determine the angular variation between angles in the targeted and achieved positions during the test.ResultA significant proprioceptive error was observed among 12-week postpartum women compared to the nulliparous group of women. The mean error of knee joint repositions among 12-week postpartum women was 0.80±6.08 (P=0.0001), and among nulliparous women was 0.09±0.72 (P=0.0001).ConclusionConcluding insight that pregnancy affects postpartum women's risk of fall injuries and joint function due to altered proprioception. Compared to nulliparous women, proprioceptive error for the dominant knee joint was significant among 12-week postpartum females. The hormonal changes during pregnancy affect the proprioceptive receptors, especially the relaxin hormone surge, which results in joint laxity and may impair joint position sensing, increasing the risk of falls. To better acknowledge the effects of pregnancy on joint function and postpartum women's rehabilitation options, this study compares knee joint proprioception in postpartum and nulliparous women. It proves right about altered proprioception post-childbirth. The results of this study might aid medical practitioners in creating successful rehabilitation plans and treatments to stop postpartum women from falling.