Cochrane · systematic review · CD011216
Complementary and alternative therapies for post‐caesarean pain
Zimpel, SA, Torloni, MR, Porfírio, GJM, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2020 · Cochrane Library
Pregnancy and ChildbirthAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
80
current version
GRADE rated
49
No studies
30
Included studies
NR
No studies 30 · 37.5%Ungraded 1 · 1.3%Very low 27 · 33.8%Low 22 · 27.5%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
Acupuncture or acupressure versus no treatment for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Abdominal pain Acupuncture or acupressure vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Adverse effects – back pain Acupuncture or acupressure vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Vital signs Acupuncture or acupressure vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Rescue analgesic requirement up to 24 hours Acupuncture or acupressure vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Pain at six weeks after discharge Acupuncture or acupressure vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia versus placebo plus analgesia for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 108 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Adverse effects Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Vital signs Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Rescue analgesic requirement (number of analgesics consumed) Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 108 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain at six weeks after discharge Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia versus analgesia for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 130 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 130 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Adverse effects (pruritus) Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia vs analgesia | RR 0.5 [0.08, 3.29] | 1 study · 60 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Vital signs Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Rescue analgesic requirement (cumulative dose) Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 60 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Pain at six weeks after discharge Acupuncture or acupressure plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Aromatherapy plus analgesia versus placebo plus analgesia for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain Aromatherapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 360 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain Aromatherapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 200 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Adverse effects (anxiety) Aromatherapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Vital signs: heart rate Aromatherapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Rescue analgesic requirement Aromatherapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | RR 0.69 [0.19, 2.49] | 3 studies · 220 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain at six weeks after discharge Aromatherapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Electromagnetic therapy plus analgesia versus placebo plus analgesia for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain Electromagnetic therapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 72 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision |
Pain Electromagnetic therapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 72 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision |
Adverse effects Electromagnetic therapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Vital signs Electromagnetic therapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Rescue analgesic requirement Electromagnetic therapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 72 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision |
Pain at six weeks after discharge Electromagnetic therapy plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Massage (foot and hand) plus analgesia versus analgesia for post‐caesarean pain
Population: patients with post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain Massage (foot and hand) plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 651 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain Massage (foot and hand) plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 230 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Adverse effects (anxiety) Massage (foot and hand) plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 266 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Vital signs ‐ heart rate Massage (foot and hand) plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 231 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Vital signs ‐ respiratory rate Massage (foot and hand) plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 231 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Rescue analgesic requirement Massage (foot and hand) plus analgesia vs analgesia | RR 0.19 [0.09, 0.41] | 2 studies · 236 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain at six weeks after discharge Massage (foot and hand) plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Music plus analgesia versus placebo plus analgesia for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain Music plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 115 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain Music plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 38 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Adverse effects (anxiety) Music plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 77 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Vital signs‐ heart hate Music plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 77 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Rescue analgesic requirement (dose ‐ morphine) Music plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 77 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain at six weeks after discharge Music plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Music plus analgesia versus analgesia for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain Music plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 38 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain Music plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 38 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Adverse effects Music plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Vital signs Music plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Rescue analgesic requirement (cumulative dose) – Tramadol Music plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 70 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Rescue analgesic requirement (cumulative dose) – Diclofenac Music plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 70 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain at 6 weeks after discharge Music plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Reiki plus analgesia versus analgesia for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain Reiki plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 90 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain Reiki plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 90 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Adverse effects (anxiety) Reiki plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 90 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Vital signs ‐ heart rate Reiki plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 90 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Vital signs ‐ respiratory rate Reiki plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 90 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Rescue analgesic requirement Reiki plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Pain at six weeks after discharge Reiki plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Relaxation versus standard care for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain Relaxation vs standard care | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 60 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain Relaxation vs standard care | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 60 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Adverse effects Relaxation vs standard care | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Vital signs Relaxation vs standard care | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Rescue analgesic requirement Relaxation vs standard care | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Pain at six weeks after discharge Relaxation vs standard care | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
TENS versus no treatment for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain TENS vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 40 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Adverse effects TENS vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Vital signs TENS vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Rescue analgesic requirement TENS vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Pain at six weeks after discharge TENS vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
TENS plus analgesia versus placebo plus analgesia for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain TENS plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 238 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain TENS plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 108 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Adverse effects TENS plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 234 participants | Ungraded |
Vital signs ‐ heart rate TENS plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 108 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Vital signs: respiratory rate TENS plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 108 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Rescue analgesic requirement (cumulative dose) ‐ Diclofenac TENS plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 108 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain at six weeks after discharge TENS plus analgesia vs placebo plus analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
TENS plus analgesia versus analgesia for post‐caesarean pain
Population: post‐caesarean pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain TENS plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 92 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain TENS plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 42 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Adverse effects TENS plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Vital signs ‐ heart rate TENS plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Vital signs ‐ respiratory rate TENS plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Rescue analgesic requirement (cumulative dose) ‐ dipyrone and morphine up to four hours TENS plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 92 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Pain at six weeks after discharge TENS plus analgesia vs analgesia | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |