Biomechanical analysis of the three recommended breastfeeding positions.

BACKGROUND: For maternal and infant benefits, cradle, cross-cradle and football hold positions have been recommended and widely utilized by mothers during breastfeeding (BF) tasks. There is paucity of data on the biomechanical costs of these BF positions. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the trunk lean angles and electromyographic (EMG) activities of the trunk muscles during these BF positions. METHODS: In this experimental study, 25 nulliparous females carried a 6-kg weighing infant, while simulating BF tasks in each of the three BF hold positions for five minutes respectively. During each task, forward and lateral trunk lean angles were measured with a single inclinometer. Activities of the right and left erector spinae (ES) and external oblique (EO) muscles were also measured via surface electromyography. One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze data at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Cross-cradle position resulted in significantly higher anterior trunk lean and right ES and EO muscle activities. Conversely, cradle position significantly elicited highest activities in the left ES and EO muscles. Left trunk lean angles were highest during the football position. CONCLUSION: Football BF position may pose less risk of BF-related musculoskeletal disorders in nursing mothers, as compared to the cradle and cross-cradle BF positions.