Physical Therapy Intervention for Puerperal Mastitis

The education session including education about mastitis, feeding techniques, lifestyle changes, thermal/cryo therapy and demonstration of breast self-massage will take approximately 20 minutes.

Participants will be treated with 5 minutes of therapeutic ultrasound (pulsed mode) at a frequency of 1 Mega Hertz, a duty cycle of 20%, a pulse intensity of 1.8 Watt/centimetre squared. The ultrasound probe will be moved at a speed of about 4 centimetre/second. The intensity and duration will be adjusted if the patient complains of discomfort. The ultrasound transducer head will massage over the tender point on the breast.

Participants will receive 5 minutes of 'sham' ultrasound at 0 Watt/centimetre squared intensity from a physical therapist.

Breast massage includes general and focused massage. Participants will lie in supine position. The breast massage will be applied according to the Vodder method to the affected breast.

Usual obstetric care may include verbal advice/printed patient information regarding mastitis and breastfeeding from the medical or nursing staff.