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. 2002 Aug 17;325(7360):357. doi: 10.1136/bmj.325.7360.357

Table 5.

 Effects of backache on lifestyle in women according to allocation to epidural analgesia or other method of pain relief during labour


Epidural (n=151)
Non-epidural (n=155)
I stay at home 3 1
I change position frequently 35 38
I walk more slowly than usual 8 10
I avoid jobs around the house 4 2
I use handrail to get upstairs 2 6
I lie down and rest more often 9 12
I hold on to something when getting up from a chair 5 8
I get other people to do things for me 6 5
I get dressed more slowly than usual 6 4
I stand for only short periods of time 9 18
I try not to bend down or kneel 20 16
I find it difficult to get out of a chair 11 3
My back is painful most of the time 6 9
It is difficult to turn over in bed 21 13
My appetite is not good 2 0
I have trouble putting socks on 8 6
I only walk for short distances 2 8
I sleep less well 21 21
I get dressed with help from someone else 1 0
I sit down for most of the day 3 2
I avoid heavy jobs around the house 15 19
I am irritable and bad tempered 10 14
I go upstairs more slowly 4 11
I stay in bed for most of the time 2 1