title: Effect of birth ball usage on pain in the active phase of labor: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anxiety can be a contributor to labor pain, which is known to be multifactorial. Because there is little information available on the efficacy of birth ball use for labor pain management, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of use of a birth ball on labor pain, contractions, and duration of the active phase of labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized controlled trial, 60 primiparous women aged 18 to 35 years were divided into birth ball and control groups. Pain scores were measured by a visual analogue scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean pain scores in the birth ball group were significantly lower than the mean pain scores in the control group (P < .05). There were no significant differences between duration of the active phase of labor or the interval between uterine contractions in the 2 groups (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the use of a birth ball had no effect on the duration of the active phase of labor, the duration of uterine contractions, or the interval between contractions, this complementary treatment could reduce the intensity of pain during the active phase of labor.
authors.affiliation: Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. swt_f@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Simin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taavoni
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdolahian
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haghani
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Neysani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D007747:Labor Stage, First; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors; D014590:Uterine Contraction; D055815:Young Adult