OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of abdominal binder usage on mobilization, postoperative pain, and distress after cesarean delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted between September 1, 2017 and January 31, 2018 at Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 89 women undergoing elective cesarean were randomized to the study (binder, n = 45) or control (no binder, n = 44) groups. Patients in the study group were fitted with a binder before leaving the operating room. Mobilization (6-minute walk test), postoperative pain (measured by Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire and Visual Analog Scale), and perceived distress status of both groups were evaluated within 8th (first mobilization time), 24th, and 48th hour of surgery. RESULTS: We found that the binder group (BG) walked longer than the control group during the 6-minute walking distance test. At the first mobilization time (postoperative 8th hour), the BG (99.4 +/- 27.3 m) covered significantly more distance than the control group (81.0 +/- 22.2 m) (p = 0.001) in the walking distance test. At postoperative 24th hour, the McGill pain score in the BG was significantly lower than that in the control group (p = 0.004). For all three test times, the Symptom Distress Scale of the BG was lower than that of the control group (postoperative 8th hour p = 0.024, 24th hour p < 0.001, and 48th hour p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The evidence is consistent with abdominal binder usage after cesarean section decreasing the feeling of distress and increasing mobility.

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