Table 2.
Subject Characteristics: Vaginal vs Cesarean Delivery
| Variable | 8 weeks Postpartum | 26 weeks postpartum | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaginal (n=18) | Cesarean (n=11) | Vaginal (n=17) | Cesarean (n=11) | |
| Age (years) | 30.6 ± 6.0 | 32.8 ± 3.5 | 31.4 ± 5.8 | 33.0 ± 4.0 |
| Weeks postpartum | 9.4 ± 1.1 | 9.3 ± 0.5 | 26.1 ± 1.6 | 26.2 ± 0.6 |
| Total Number of Pregnancies | 2.1 ± 1.2 (n=17) | 3.0 ± 1.9 (n=10) | 2.1 ± 1.1 (n=15) | 3.0 ± 2.1 (n=9) |
| Duration of Most Recent Pregnancy (weeks) | 39.3 ± 1.0 (n=14) | 38.1 ± 1.2* (n=10) | 39.3 ± 1.0 (n=12) | 38.3 ± 1.4 (n=9) |
| Weight (kg) | 74.3 ± 14.4 | 74.2 ± 12.2 | 70.9 ± 15.3 | 72.4 ± 12.4 |
| Height (cm) | 164.6 ± 4.3 | 163.1 ± 5.3 | 165.1 ± 4.8 | 162.6 ± 4.8 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 27.5 ± 5.4 | 27.8 ± 4.3 | 26.4 ± 5.6 | 27.5 ± 4.3 |
| Body Fat % | 39.0 ± 7.0 | 37.7 ± 7.0 | 36.1 ± 8.8 | 37.7 ± 8.2 |
| Thickness of right rectus abdominis muscle belly (2.5 cm above umbilicus) (cm) | 0.8 ± 0.2 | 0.8 ± 0.1 | 0.8 ± 0.2 | 0.8 ± 0.1 |
| Thickness of right rectus abdominis muscle belly (2.5 cm below umbilicus) (cm) | 0.8 ± 0.2 | 0.8 ± 0.2 | 0.8 ± 0.3 | 0.8 ± 0.2 |
| Average minutes/day of moderate intensity physical activity | 17.1 ± 19.1 (n=10) | 20.4 ± 19.4 (n=10) | 16.8 ± 11.2 (n=10) | 13.1 ± 4.9 (n=3) |
| Self-reported physical activity over the previous 12 months (MET·hours·week−1) | 22.0 ± 16.3 (n=17) | 22.6 ± 24.3 (n=10) | 15.4 ± 20.8 (n=15) | 14.3 ± 11.3 (n=10) |
| Distance walked in 6 minutes (m) | 645.0 ± 62.0 | 631.8 ± 71.3 | 663.4 ± 60.8 | 636.1 ± 70.9 |
| Hand grip maximal strength, right hand (kg) | 33.4 ± 5.9 | 32.5 ± 6.1 | 34.9 ± 6.5 | 32.7 ± 6.6 (n=10) |
| Hand grip maximal strength, left hand (kg) | 31.7 ± 5.2 | 30.2 ± 4.6 | 33.2 ± 5.9 | 30.7 ± 4.9 (n=10) |
| Change in MVC torque at end of fatiguing exercise protocol (% MVC) | −12.0 ± 27.4 (n=16) | −18.4 ± 39.7 | −22.9 ± 21.0 | −25.8 ± 15.4 |
| External Oblique EMG at beginning of fatigue task (%MVC) | 52.2 ± 26.7 (n=14) | 57.4 ± 19.7 (n=9) | 46.8 ± 22.6 | 55.7 ± 23.7 |
| External Oblique EMG at end of fatigue task (%MVC) | 59.4 ± 23.5 (n=14) | 62.3 ± 16.9 (n=9) | 49.2 ± 16.8 | 67.0 ± 27.6 |
| Rectus Femoris EMG at beginning of fatigue task (%MVC) | 4.3 ± 2.1 (n=14) | 4.8 ± 2.9 (n=9) | 5.9 ± 5.1 | 7.3 ± 7.4 |
| Rectus Femoris EMG at end of fatigue task (%MVC) | 4.3 ± 2.1 (n=14) | 4.9 ± 2.9 (n=9) | 6.0 ± 5.2 | 7.3 ± 7.4 |
*
Indicates p<0.05. kg=kilograms; cm=centimeters; m=meters; MET=metabolic equivalents; MVC=maximal voluntary contraction