A systematic review of the effectiveness of exercise programs on postpartum maternal fatigue

Abstract

Objective: This systematic review aimed to clarify the effectiveness of exercise programs on postpartum fatigue among healthy postpartum women from randomized controlled trials (RCT).

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and the Ichushi Web database from the dates of their inception. The study inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) RCT for postpartum women, 2) studies that used exercise interventions after childbirth, 3) studies that used an index to measure fatigue, and 4) article written in English or Japanese. We excluded studies that included postpartum women diagnosed as having postpartum depression.

Results: Six of the 62 studies were selected in accordance with the criteria. Three studies showed that fatigue was significantly reduced by exercise. However, after the evaluation and verification for bias, the three studies included items of high or unknown risk. In the three studies, the actual quantity of exercise in the intervention group did not meet the prescribed amount.

Conclusion: We could not clarify the effects of exercise on postpartum fatigue through this literature review. Further research is needed to maintain adherence and conduct high-quality RCTs with low bias to clarify the usefulness of exercise for reducing postpartum fatigue.