title: [The physiotherapist as a professional to assist pregnant women].
abstract: Control of pain during labor and childbirth are among the goals of the obstetric team to ensure the pregnant woman a safe and satisfactory delivery. There are several techniques that can be used by the physiotherapist as a member of the obstetric team to ensure relief from pain during childbirth. The physiotherapeutic assistance includes baths, cryotherapy, massage, breathing techniques, walking, vertical positions and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Bibliographical research conducted, revealed that the use of TENS for analgesic purposes is inconclusive, though all the other techniques are considered in the literature to be beneficial, and should be encouraged during dilation and delivery. Physiotherapists proved to be useful in assisting the pregnant woman during labor, helping to reduce the perception of pain and speeding up delivery.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências da Saúde e do Esporte, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil. gabi_zanella@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Gabriela Zanella
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Bavaresco
authors.forename: Renata Stefânia Olah de
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Almeica
authors.forename: José Hugo
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sabatino
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dias
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D059825:Physical Therapists; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011247:Pregnancy