TENS is a safe and viable non-pharmacological analgesic resource to be employed for pain relief post-episiotomy. The routine use of TENS post-episiotomy is recommended.

This is a descriptive study, involving fifty women after vaginal delivery with episiotomy. The study aimed to measure and to characterize the perineal pain in primiparae who have had a natural childbirth with episiotomy and to verify the activities limited by the perineal pain. For evaluation of perineal pain, a Numeric Scale and the McGill Pain Questionnaire were used, as well as another questionnaire to analyze the activities limited. In the Numeric Scale, the median of perineal pain referred were five. The sensory and subjective evaluation categories were the most selected in the McGill questionnaire. The perineal pain was characterized as pulsing, pulling, hot, stinging, hurting, annoying, troublesome, tight and tense. The most limited activities were sitting, laying down (onto the bed), and walking. In conclusion, it was possible to verify the presence of perineal pain between women in the postpartum period caused by episiotomy and identify the activities of sitting, lying down and walking were limited for this symptom.

Objectives: To measure and characterize post cesarean section pain and to verify its relationship with limitations of physical activities. Methods: Descriptive study with 60 women in the post-operative period of cesarean section. Pain was measured with both the Numeric Scale and the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Limitations of physical activities were measured with a specific instrument developed for the study. Results: Sitting down and stranding up were the physical activities with the highest pain scores. All participants reported that the pain limited their movements for sitting down and standing up and characterized the pain as "annoying", "grasping" and "straining." Conclusion: Post cesarean section pain was rated as moderate. The pain led to limitations of physical activities for sitting down, standing up, and walking. Keywords: Cesarean section; Pain; Activities of daily living; Mobility limitation RESUMO Objetivo: Mensurar e caracterizar a dor após cesárea e verificar sua relação com a limitação de atividades. Métodos: Pesquisa descritiva com 60 puérperas após cesárea. Para avaliação da dor foram usadas a Escala Numérica e o Questionário de Dor McGill. As limitações de atividades foram avaliadas por instrumento elaborado pelas pesquisadoras. Resultados: A dor após a cesárea apresenta maiores escores no movimento de sentar e levantar. A dor é caracterizada como "incômoda", "que prende" e "que repuxa". Todas as participantes relataram que a dor limitava o movimento de sentar e levantar. Conclusão: Foi possível observar que a dor após a cesárea é caracterizada como moderada. A dor promove limitação principalmente nas atividades de sentar e levantar e caminhar. Descritores: Cesárea; Dor; Atividades cotidianas; Limitação da mobilidade RESUMEN Objetivo: Medir y caracterizar el dolor después de una cesárea y verificar su relación con la limitación de actividades cotidianas. Métodos: Investigación descriptiva con 60 puérperas después de una cesárea. Para evaluar el dolor fueron usadas la Escala Numérica y el Cuestionario del Dolor McGill. Las limitaciones de actividades fueron evaluadas por un instrumento elaborado por las investigadoras. Resultados: El dolor después de la cesárea presenta mayores puntajes en los movimientos de sentarse y levantarse. El dolor es caracterizado como "incomodo", "que sujeta" y "que se estira". Todas las participantes relataron que el dolor limitaba los movimientos de sentarse y levantarse. Conclusión: Fue posible observar que el dolor después de la cesárea es caracterizado como moderado. El dolor promueve limitaciones principalmente en las actividades de sentarse, levantarse y caminar.