Comparison of the efficiency of core stabilization exercises and abdominal corset in the treatment of postpartum diastasis recti abdominis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of three physiotherapy interventions for the treatment of diastasis recti abdominis (DRA): core stabilization exercises, abdominal corset and a combination of exercise and abdominal corset. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-five women 6 to 12 weeks postpartum who were diagnosed with DRA by a gynecologist/obstetrician were recruited for the study. The women were randomly divided into three groups: core stabilization exercises (1st group), the combination of exercise and abdominal corset (2nd group) and abdominal corset (3rd group). The treatment session for each group continued for 8 weeks. Outcome measurements were pain evaluation, inter-rectus distance (IRD) measured using ultrasound, trunk flexion strength and endurance, balance with open eyes/closed with a balance board, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS: Statistically significant difference was observed in all outcome measures except the balance eyes closed results in the first group (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in all outcome measures in the second group (p < 0.05). Also, there was a statistically significant difference in visual analog scale, trunk flexor endurance, IRD results, balance with open eyes and ODI results in the third group (p < 0.05). When the values pre and post-treatment between the groups were examined, a statistically significant change was observed in trunk flexion strength, trunk flexor endurance, and balance with open eyes/closed parameters (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapy interventions as core stabilization exercises and the abdominal corset can positively impact IRD, trunk flexion muscle strength and endurance, balance and disability in DRA management. The combination of exercise and corset was found more effective in the postpartum process.

Efficacy of Acupuncture in Post-partum With Diastasis Recti Abdominis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Study Protocol.

Background: Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) is one of the common complications during pregnancy and post-partum, which has psychological and physical effects on post-partum women. Acupuncture, a worldwide alternative therapy, has attracted wide attention in preventing and treating diseases related to pregnancy and childbirth. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture combined with physical training in treating post-partum rectus muscle dissociation. Methods: This is a randomized, controlled trial of DRA in post-partum conducted at Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated with Zhejiang University of Chinese Medicine. The primary purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture and physical training on DRA in post-partum women. The study will be conducted from March 2022 to March 2023. The acupuncture group received acupuncture and physical training (n = 48), the sham acupuncture group received sham acupuncture and physical training (n = 48), and the physical training group received physical training (n = 48). These experiments perform once/day, five times a week for 2 weeks, followed up for half a year after the end of the course of treatment. Our tests perform a course of treatment, which includes a total of 10 consecutive treatments. Furthermore, the patient will be followed up for half a year after the treatment. Primary and secondary indicators, including inter recti distance (IRD), linea alba (LA) tension, the MOS item short-form health survey (SF-36), short-form McGill pain questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), leeds dyspepsia questionnaire (LDQ), menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ), 10 items of edinburgh post-natal depression scale (EPDS-10), the modified body self-image scale (MBIS), international consultation incontinence questionnaire short-form (ICIQ-SF) and hernia-related quality-of-life survey (HerQles), which will be evaluated before and after treatment and half a year after treatment. Adverse events and side effects during each treatment will be collected and recorded. Discussion: There is evidence that acupuncture and physical training can treat DRA in post-partum. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in post-partum with DRA.