Kinesiotherapy as a non-pharmacological resource used by physiotherapists during labor
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i5.51084Keywords:
Labor, Normal delivery, Labor pain, Childbirth care, First stage of labor, Second stage of labor, Third stage of labor.Abstract
Introduction: Labor pain, although inherent to the physiological process, is modulated by physical, emotional, and social factors, making its management essential to ensure maternal well-being. The physiotherapist plays a fundamental role by employing techniques that promote pain control and strengthen female empowerment. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the effects of kinesiotherapy as a non-pharmacological resource for pain relief during labor. Methodology: This is an integrative review covering the period from 2021 to 2025, conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, and PEDro databases, using the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR. Articles available in full, in Portuguese and English, with a randomized clinical trial or phenomenological study design were included, excluding publications older than five years, literature reviews, and studies without access to the full text. Results and Discussion: The selected studies were organized into a summary frame containing two categories according to their methodological nature: three randomized clinical trials and one phenomenological study. The results showed that physiotherapy interventions, including pelvic mobilization, peanut ball, and rebozo, contribute to pain reduction, improved maternal experience, and labor progression. Conclusion: Kinesiotherapy proved effective as a non-pharmacological strategy in reducing pain intensity and improving the maternal experience. However, the small number of studies, the limited sample sizes, and the heterogeneity among the populations prevent the establishment of consolidated techniques as a gold standard for pain management during labor.
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