Effects of Pilates and Progressive Prone Plank Exercises in Diastasis Recti

May 4, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Comparative Effects of Pilates and Progressive Prone Plank Exercises on Pain, Strength and Inter-Rectus Distance in Diastasis Recti

This study aims to determine the comparative effects of Pilates and Progressive Prone Plank exercises on pain, strength and inter rectus distance in Diastasis Recti

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This will be a randomized clinical trial collected from University of Lahore Teaching hospital and Sehat Medical Complex Lahore by using non-probability convenience sampling technique. Multiparous women with a BMI less than 30 kg/m² and have been clinically diagnosed with Diastasis Recti will be included in this study. Participants must be able to perform physical activity without contraindications and must provide informed consent. Women currently pregnant, with significant pelvic floor dysfunction, unmanaged chronic illnesses (e.g., heart disease or hypertension), recent abdominal surgeries within the last six months will be excluded. The sample size is calculated to be 34, with 17 participants in each group. Group A will receive Pilates training, while Group B will undergo progressive prone plank exercises. Each session will last for 45 minute, thrice weekly for four weeks. Pre- and post-treatment evaluations will include pain (Numeric Pain Rating Scale), strength (Manual Muscle Testing), and inter-rectus distance (measured by finger-width method with a Vernier caliper). Data will be analyzed by using SPSS version 27.0.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
34

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 6400
        • Recruiting
        • Sehat Medical Complex
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Rameesha khan, MSPT(WH)

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Multiparous women
  • Postpartum women (within 6 to 12 months postpartum)
  • BMI <30
  • IRD ≥2 cm diagnosed with Diastasis Recti (verified by ultrasound or clinical assessment)
  • Participants who have undergone either vaginal delivery or cesarean section (C-section).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Significant pelvic floor dysfunction or pelvic organ prolapse or other related conditions
  • Patient with unmanaged chronic conditions, like heart disease or hypertension
  • Recent abdominal or related surgeries within the past six months
  • Women who are currently pregnant or experiencing postpartum complications.
  • Patient with presence of hernia.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Pilates exercises
All exercises in the Pilates training group will be performed on a mat in a controlled environment under the supervision of a qualified instructor. The focus will be on core activation, controlled breathing, and maintaining neutral spine alignment throughout all movements
Other: Experimental: Pilates exercises
It will be delivered three times per week for four weeks, with each session lasting approximately 25 minutes
Experimental: Progressive Prone Plank Exercises
Participants will follow a structured progressive prone plank protocol designed to strengthen the core muscles, particularly targeting the transverse abdominus and rectus abdominus, which are crucial in managing Diastasis Recti. All exercises will be performed under supervision, with emphasis on correct posture, controlled breathing, and spinal alignment
Other: Progressive Prone Plank Exercises
It will be delivered three times per week for four weeks, with each session lasting approximately 25 minutes

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time Frame: 4th week
The Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is a widely used subjective pain measurement tool. It was created as a simple way to assess pain severity. It has a rating range of 0 to 10, with 0 representing no pain, 5 indicating severe discomfort, and 10 denoting the greatest conceivable agony
4th week
Manual muscle testing
Time Frame: 4th week
Manual muscle testing (MMT) is a fundamental assessment method used by healthcare professionals to evaluate muscle strength, including the gluteus medius and gluteus maximus. (34) It has a scoring range from 0 to 5 where 5 shows maximum strength. It has a reliability range from 0.88 to 0.94. It also has a good validity with 0.62 to 1.00 range
4th week
Finger width method
Time Frame: 4th week
In this patient were asked to lie in a supine position in crook lying. Patient is instructed to do abdominal crunch till their shoulder is off the couch. By palpation around the protrusion along the linea alba diastasis recti is assessed with 4.5 cm above and below of umbilical. In case of less than 2 fingers breadth there is no diastasis recti. In case of 2 to 3 fingers breadth the diastasis recti is considered mild. In case of 3 to 4 fingers breadth it is considered as moderate and in case of 4 or more than 4 fingers breadth the diastasis recti is considered severe. The measurement will be done with the help of a Vernier caliper. Measurements were taken 4.5 cm above and below the umbilicus during an abdominal crunch, with the caliper placed between the palpated borders of the rectus abdominis. Three readings were taken at each point, and the average was used for analysis
4th week

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Riphah International University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: sobia ghafoor, MSPT-OM, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 4, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • REC/RCR & AHS/25/0503

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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