Health Sciences
Early Physiotherapy after Episiotomy: Effects on Postpartum Recovery, Pelvic Floor
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Lukáš Hruban, Ph.D.
Consultant: Assoc. Prof. Ladislav Baťalík, Ph.D.
Doctoral study program: Health Sciences
Form: doctoral (present)
Department: Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, MU – training department
Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, MU – study programme’s home department
Annotation:
Episiotomy may be associated with persistent perineal pain, impaired pelvic floor function, urinary symptoms, dyspareunia and reduced quality of life. However, evidence supporting standardized early physiotherapy after episiotomy remains limited. The doctoral project will evaluate the effectiveness of structured early physiotherapy in women following uncomplicated mediolateral episiotomy. The EPI-PHYSIO randomized controlled trial will constitute the core study, comparing individualized physiotherapy initiated within 24–72 hours after delivery and continued during the early postpartum period with standard care. Clinical, functional and patient-reported outcomes will include perineal pain, scar characteristics, pelvic floor function, urinary incontinence, sexual function and health-related quality of life, with follow-up up to 12–14 months postpartum. The project aims to provide clinically applicable evidence for evidence-based physiotherapy recommendations and multidisciplinary postpartum care pathways.
Funding of the study and research for 4 years
This research will be funded by current and future grant projects, combined with institutional funding for the research group, if necessary.
Primary funding for the proposed work is secured by the EPI-PHYSIO study supported through institutional research funding of University Hospital (UH) Brno. The doctoral candidate is employed at UH Brno and the MU. Funding covering research activities during the standard four-year study period will be provided through institutional and/or project resources.
Information on funding PGS positions:
The program requires that all PhD students have some means of financial support of min. 26 880 CZK
per month. This is often a combination of various sources (grants, scholarship etc.)
Requirements:
Strong skills in Physiotherapy practice with a special focus on women´s health. The applicant has to be graduates with the master’s degree in physiotherapy or a related health sciences field, interest in women's health and pelvic floor physiotherapy, and ability to participate in clinical research and scientific data collection. Active participation in peer-reviewed publications and sufficient English proficiency for scientific communication is expected. The candidate will also participate in teaching activities and complete an international research stay according to programme requirements.
Requirements for the student according to the Doctoral Board (publication activity, teaching assistance, other requirements)
The student's minimum publication activity within the course of study is one first-author publication with an IF value above the median in the field or 2 first-author publications in journals with an IF value in the 3rd quartile in the field (Q3). A condition for successful completion of the studies is also a foreign internship of at least 1 month, which is an inseparable part of the studies. As part of their studies, students will also participate in the teaching. As part of their studies, students will also participate in the teaching.
Supervisor (publication activity, grants, international cooperation including a possibility of an internship of PhD candidate, number of successful graduates and their and their subsequent employment)
The supervisor has many years’ professional experience in the field of postnatal care for women Publication activity over the past 5 years has been included in the supervisor CV. Several international collaborations are ongoing providing multiple possibilities for the potential PhD student to perform internship abroad.