• Gülsemin Ertürk Çelik, Sezin Ertürk Aksakal, and Yaprak Engin Üstün.
• Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ankara, Turkiye.
• Turk J Med Sci. 2024 Jan 1; 54 (5): 908914908-914.

Background/AimThis study explored the correlation between maternal muscle mass and strength and the mode of delivery in childbirth. Specifically, it focused on full-term nulliparous pregnant women, analyzing ultrasonographic measurements of the quadriceps femoris muscle together with serum myostatin levels and muscle strength as determined by a handgrip test. The aim was to discern whether these factors could influence the likelihood of delivering vaginally or via cesarean section.Materials And MethodsThis study included 86 healthy nulliparous women at term, categorizing them into two groups based on their mode of delivery: vaginal delivery (58 women, Group 1) and cesarean section (28 women, Group 2). Comparative analyses of demographic information, delivery characteristics, ultrasonographic measurements of the quadriceps femoris, limb circumferences, handgrip strength, and serum myostatin concentrations were conducted.ResultsThe findings revealed that women in Group 1 had less gestational weight gain but greater handgrip strength compared to Group 2. Additionally, women who underwent cesarean section due to nonprogressive labor had greater arm and calf circumferences relative to those who had vaginal deliveries.ConclusionThe data of this study suggest a trend whereby lower maternal muscle strength and mass are associated with a decreased likelihood of vaginal delivery in pregnant women.© TÜBİTAK.

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