Diastasis Recti

Researchers are studying patients with symptomatic rectus diastasis, a condition where the abdominal muscles separate, causing pain and instability. The trial aims to evaluate if laparoscopic abdominal wall reconstruction is a safe treatment option and whether it improves quality of life, trunk stability, and reduces pain. The study also compares two laparoscopic methods: suturing the linea alba alone or with added mesh. Participants will undergo one of two surgical procedures for abdominal wall reconstruction: either narrowing the linea alba using continuous sutures alone or using continuous sutures combined with mesh. Both methods are performed laparoscopically, and the study uses a randomized, double-blind design to compare their outcomes. During the study, participants will be monitored for recurrence of rectus diastasis over one year. Pain levels will be assessed using the Visual Analog Pain Scale, and questionnaires like SF-36 and VHPQ will evaluate quality of life and pain before and after surgery at 1 and 3 years. Abdominal stability will also be measured to understand the surgery's impact. The total duration of participation may extend up to 3 years for follow-up assessments.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a postoperative rehabilitation program for patients undergoing surgical correction of abdominal rectus diastasis, a condition where the abdominal muscles separate. The study aims to determine if structured abdominal exercises after surgery improve abdominal wall function at three and twelve months and to compare connective tissue components in patients with this condition to healthy individuals. This randomized controlled trial is conducted in Sweden and sponsored by Umeå University. Participants will all undergo surgery to correct the abdominal rectus diastasis by plication of the linea alba. They are randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group follows a postoperative rehabilitation program designed by a physical therapist, while the other group is allowed to exercise freely without a structured program. Blood samples and tissue biopsies from skin, connective tissue, and rectus muscle are collected before and during surgery. Follow-up assessments occur at three and twelve months after surgery. During the study, participants will be evaluated using physical function tests such as the 5 times sit to stand test and repetitions of a 20-kilogram deadlift at three and twelve months post-surgery. They will also complete questionnaires assessing pain, disability, and pelvic floor distress. Safety and progress are monitored through clinical visits and sample collections. The total participation time covers pre-surgery, surgery day procedures, and follow-ups at three and twelve months.

This research aims to evaluate whether stone needles therapy can help in the recovery of maternal diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) based on the Belt channel theory. It also seeks to validate the use of the Chinese version of the Body Attitude Questionnaire (BAQ-C) as a tool to measure body image satisfaction in Chinese women with postpartum DRA. The trial investigates if adding stone needles therapy to neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and massage therapy improves postpartum DRA recovery. Participants will receive 10 sessions of NMES combined with massage therapy, with the stone needles therapy added after the 3rd, 6th, and 9th massage sessions for those in the stone needles therapy group. Each stone needles therapy session lasts about 30 minutes, with a total of three sessions. The control group will receive NMES and massage therapy without the stone needles treatment. During the study, abdominal circumference and the distance between rectus muscles will be measured after each treatment. After completing all treatments, researchers will assess body image satisfaction, low back pain, dysfunction scores, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. The primary outcomes include changes in the inter-recti distance, abdominal circumference, and body image satisfaction before and after interventions. Participants will be monitored throughout the treatment period to evaluate these effects.

Researchers are comparing the effects of hypopressive exercises and split tummy (transverse abdominal activation-based) exercises on postpartum women with diastasis recti, a condition where the abdominal muscles separate after childbirth. This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate improvements in inter-recti distance (IRD), pelvic floor muscle strength and function, and overall quality of life. The study is conducted at two hospitals and involves 50 participants divided into two groups over an 8-week treatment period. One group will perform hypopressive exercises combined with abdominal binding as a baseline treatment, involving postural and breathing-based sequences in various positions for 20 minutes, three times per week. The other group will receive abdominal binding along with split tummy isometric exercises such as modified plank holds, pelvic tilts, and transverse abdominis engagement, also performed three times per week with multiple sets of repetitions. Both treatments focus on improving core stability and muscle endurance. Participants will be assessed before and after the 8-week treatment using tools like a digital vernier scale for measuring inter-recti distance, the Oswestry Disability Index for function, the Oxford Grading Scale for pelvic floor strength, and a quality of life questionnaire. Data analysis will evaluate physical and lifestyle changes. This study includes double-blind randomization and aims to provide insight into effective exercise rehabilitation for postpartum diastasis recti.

This research aims to compare the effects of specialist-supported rehabilitation versus self-training on preventing and treating pelvic floor dysfunction in women during the postpartum period. The study evaluates changes in pelvic organ position, pelvic floor muscle function, symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, and how these symptoms affect quality of life. Participants are women who are 6 to 10 weeks postpartum and will be assessed with various validated questionnaires and objective tests. Participants are divided into two groups: one group receives supervised physiotherapy, biofeedback, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatments led by specialists, including a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor and a physiotherapist. The other group follows a self-training program at home based on specialist instructions, using a mobile app called "squeezy" to remind and record training sessions. The study includes assessments before training, after six months of training, and after twelve months. Women in the study will have medical examinations, pelvic floor muscle assessments, ultrasound scans, and complete questionnaires that cover urinary incontinence, prolapse symptoms, sexual function, and overall quality of life. Researchers will track pelvic floor muscle strength and coordination, pelvic organ position, pain levels, and muscle activity over time. The study also monitors factors such as birth history and body measurements that may affect rehabilitation outcomes. Participation lasts for at least one year with evaluations at key intervals.

Researchers are conducting an observational study to develop and validate a specific questionnaire for women with diastasis recti abdominis (DRA), a condition where the abdominal muscles separate along the midline. DRA affects many women postpartum and can lead to symptoms like lower back, pelvic, and abdominal pain, urinary incontinence, and negative impacts on body image and quality of life. The study aims to create a tool that evaluates these symptoms and their consequences beyond just anatomical measurement of muscle separation. The study involves several stages: a systematic literature review to identify relevant symptoms and impacts, an online survey to gather patient-reported experiences, expert panel review to refine questionnaire items, and pilot testing with women who have DRA. After finalizing the questionnaire, researchers will validate it by assessing its reliability and accuracy in a group of adult women attending a physiotherapy clinic. Participants will also complete comparative questionnaires to measure quality of life, gastrointestinal symptoms, functioning, body image, social relationships, and psychological distress. Participants will complete the newly developed questionnaire and related surveys at the start and again after 7 to 10 days to assess consistency over time. The study involves collecting demographic data and detailed self-reported measures regarding DRA symptoms and their effects. Researchers will analyze the questionnaire's psychometric properties to ensure it effectively captures the impact of DRA on women's lives. The total participation includes initial assessments and a follow-up to evaluate test-retest reliability.

Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA) is a common condition affecting many women after childbirth, where the abdominal muscles separate along the midline due to stretching. This condition may impact abdominal support, posture, breathing, and trunk function. Researchers are studying how DRA relates to diaphragm function and accessory breathing muscles, as little is currently known about this connection. The study aims to compare these muscle characteristics in women who have given birth, with and without DRA. This observational study divides adult women who have given birth into two groups based on the presence or absence of DRA, determined by standardized ultrasound imaging of the abdominal muscles. Participants undergo a single assessment session that includes rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) to examine diaphragm thickness and movement during breathing. Inspiratory muscle strength is also tested using a POWERbreathe KH2 device. Additional information about pregnancy history and physical activity is collected. Women involved in the study will have one session where measurements of diaphragm thickness during inhalation and exhalation, diaphragm movement, and inspiratory muscle strength are taken. Demographic and clinical data such as age, body mass index, number of births, and time since last delivery are recorded. The main focus is to understand if women with DRA have altered diaphragm function or weaker respiratory muscles compared to those without DRA, which may guide future postpartum rehabilitation strategies.

This research aims to compare two exercise programs for women with diastasis recti, a condition involving separation of abdominal muscles often seen postpartum. The study includes females aged 25 to 40 years who have had vaginal deliveries and experience pain related to this condition. It is a randomized clinical trial assessing effects on muscle strength, inter-recti distance, pain levels, and disability. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group A performs corrective exercises focused on deep core muscle activation, progressing over 12 weeks from low-load activation to advanced control exercises. Group B performs plank exercises starting with modified plank positions and advancing to full plank holds and stabilization tasks. Both groups exercise three times per week over the 12-week treatment period, beginning with baseline pelvic floor and core stability exercises. Throughout the study, strength is tested using manual muscle testing, pain is measured by the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and inter-recti distance along with disability index are assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Researchers monitor progress and analyze data to evaluate how each exercise type affects these outcomes. Participants are involved in regular supervised exercise sessions and follow-up assessments during the trial duration.

This research aims to evaluate how the combination of the drawing-in maneuver and resisted ankle dorsiflexion affects postpartum women with diastasis recti. The study focuses on measuring pain, the distance between abdominal muscles (inter-recti distance), muscle strength, and quality of life. It includes females aged 20 to 45 years who are between 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum, with a diagnosis of diastasis recti. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will perform only the drawing-in maneuver, while the other will perform both the drawing-in maneuver and resisted ankle dorsiflexion. Both interventions will be carried out twice a week for six weeks. The drawing-in maneuver involves holding a muscle contraction for 10 seconds and repeating it 10 times per session, while resisted ankle dorsiflexion includes ankle movements against resistance in sets of repetitions. During the study, assessments will be done at the start and after six weeks of treatment. These include measuring pain with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, inter-recti distance using a caliper, muscle strength through manual muscle testing, and quality of life with the SF-36 questionnaire. The study will analyze the collected data to understand the combined effects of these exercises on postpartum diastasis recti.

Researchers are evaluating the comparative effects of Pilates and progressive prone plank exercises on pain, strength, and the separation of abdominal muscles (inter-rectus distance) in women diagnosed with Diastasis Recti. This randomized clinical trial focuses on multiparous women with a body mass index under 30 who can safely perform physical activity. The study aims to understand how these two exercise types influence recovery and muscle function in this condition. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two exercise groups. Group A will receive Pilates training focused on core activation, controlled breathing, and maintaining neutral spine alignment during mat exercises supervised by a qualified instructor. Group B will follow a progressive prone plank exercise protocol designed to strengthen core muscles important for managing Diastasis Recti, also performed under supervision. Each group will complete 45-minute sessions three times a week for four weeks. During the study, participants' pain levels will be measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, muscle strength via Manual Muscle Testing, and inter-rectus distance by the finger-width method using a Vernier caliper. These assessments will be done before and after the exercise period. Data collected will be analyzed to compare outcomes between the two groups. The total participation period includes these four weeks of exercise and evaluation. Safety and adherence will be monitored throughout the trial.