Impact of Exercise on Diastasis Rectus Abdominus

Targeted Exercise in a Group Setting Compared to General Group Fitness Class: Impact on Diastasis Recti in Postpartum Women

The aim with this research project is to evaluate the success of diastasis recti closure after a 4-week group exercise class that includes: strengthening of each abdominal muscle group, hip strengthening and stabilization, and pelvic floor activation and cueing during exercises. Success will be evaluated by measuring width and depth of linea alba laxity before and after completion of the 4 sessions as well as other outcome measures such as lumbopelvic pain, pain with intercourse, and incontinence. Intervention will be compared to a control group that participates in an exercise program geared toward general health and wellness.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Diastasis Recti and Weakness of the Linea Alba
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise

Detailed Description

Diastasis recti, is a condition where the linea alba becomes stretched, sometimes lax, and creates distance between the rectus abdominis muscle bellies. It occurs most often during and after pregnancy, abdominal weight gain, and sometimes due to straining while performing heavy lifting. If the linea alba becomes thin enough to tear, the person may experience a hernia. Inter-rectus distance >25mm (~2 finger widths) at one or more locations is considered to be clinically significant for diastasis recti. Pathological diastasis recti is an inter rectus distance widening more than 10mm (~1 finger width) above the umbilicus, 27mm (~2.5 finger widths) at the umbilicus, and 9mm (~1 finger width) below the umbilicus. Normal width of the linea alba in nulliparous women should be less than 15mm at the xiphoid process, 22 mm at 3cm above the umbilicus, and 16mm at 2 cm below umbilicus.

The prevalence of diastasis recti is significant in the postpartum population. Clinically significant diastasis recti is currently thought to be best assessed at 2cm above the umbilicus and 5cm above the umbilicus between 25-41 weeks of pregnancy, and at 6 months postpartum. At 6 months postpartum, the average values for diastasis recti using these measurements were 23mm average at 2cm above the umbilicus (~2.5 finger widths), and 18mm average at 5cm above the umbilicus (~2 finger widths). The measures below the umbilicus were clinically insignificant at 6 months postpartum.

Thed abdominal drawing-in maneuver (transverse abdominis activation) and curl up (rectus abdominis activation) are both exercise maneuvers that have been traditionally taught for diastasis resolution. It was found that curl ups alone narrow the inter-rectus distance but don't achieve tension through the linea alba. Transverse abdominis activation alone tensions the linea alba but doesn't achieve narrowing of the inter-rectus distance. Combined transverse abdominis activation and curl up achieves both narrowing and tension through the linea alba.

The positive correlation between diastasis recti and lumbopelvic pain, incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse has been shown in recent studies as well. 52% of urogynecological patients had a diastasis recti in one study, and that 66% of those women had a support-related pelvic floor dysfunction (i.e. stress urinary incontinence (UI), fecal incontinence (FI), and/or pelvic organ prolapse (POP)). 45% of women in pregnancy have pelvic girdle pain (PGP), and 25% in the early postpartum period still have PGP. 5-7% of women continue to experience PGP at 12 wks postpartum. 45% of women have urinary incontinence at 7 years postpartum; 27% of those who were initially incontinent in the early postpartum period regained continence, but 31% who were initially continent became incontinent by 7 years postpartum, thus highlighting the need for early intervention of postpartum rehab.

In recent years, research on diastasis recti has become more prevalent. However, the research on diastasis recti recovery and physical therapy treatment programs is limited. Most of the studies thus far have looked at transverse abdominis activation, curl ups, and planks. Effects of strengthening abdominal obliques, hips, pelvic floor, and heavier strengthening of the rectus abdominis done at the same time have not yet been included in these studies.

The aim with this research project is to evaluate the success of diastasis recti closure after a 4-week group exercise class that includes: strengthening of each abdominal muscle group, hip strengthening and stabilization, and pelvic floor activation and cueing during exercises. Success will be evaluated by measuring width and depth of linea alba laxity before and after completion of the 4 sessions as well as other outcome measures such as lumbopelvic pain, pain with intercourse, and incontinence. Intervention will be compared to a control group that participates in an exercise program geared toward general health and wellness.

The goal is to evaluate whether a program incorporating hip, core, and pelvic floor strengthening specifically designed to address the weaknesses common in individuals with diastasis recti is superior to a generalized wellness program in addressing lumbopelvic pain, incontinence, and other pelvic health conditions. If so, this will lay the foundation for a protocol to guide the clinician on safe, yet effective, methods of core strengthening so women are able to transition back into community fitness classes safely and without fear of worsening their diastasis recti.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 6
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Missouri
    • Columbia, Missouri, United States, 65202
      • MU Healthcare

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 and 60
• Has had a vaginal or cesarean delivery between 12 weeks and 2 years ago
• Has a diastasis measured at least 2 cm wide

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cardiovascular problems precluding exercise
• Exercise-induced asthma
• History of stroke
• History of abdominal surgery other than a cesarean section
• Current pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Generalized Exercise; General wellness/exercise program designed to replicate a generic wellness program that one would find in a gym setting. Will be led by an exercise instructor.	Other: Exercise; Both groups will participate in group exercise as previously described
Experimental: Diastasis Specific Exercise; Diastasis specific exercise program incorporating multiple muscle groups and based on research findings of exercises that are shown to be effective for reducing size and impact of diastasis rectus.	Other: Exercise; Both groups will participate in group exercise as previously described

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Diastasis width comparison	Measured by the same outcomes assessor, reported in centimeters	At enrollment (prior to intervention), within 1 week following end of intervention
Diastasis depth comparison	Measured by the same outcomes assessor, reported in centimeters	At enrollment (prior to intervention), within 1 week following end of intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Back pain comparison	Measured using the Numeric Pain Rating scale. This scale measures pain on a spectrum from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain you can imagine) and is validated for use in comparison within an individual.	At enrollment (prior to intervention), within 1 week following end of intervention
Incontinence comparison	Measured by presence or absence, frequency of leaking, need for pads	At enrollment (prior to intervention), within 1 week following end of intervention
Dyspareunia comparison	Using the Marinoff Dyspareunia Scale Score. This scale measures level of dyspareunia (pain with sex) on a spectrum from 0 (no limitations to sex) to 3 (unable to participate in penetrative intercourse due to pain).	At enrollment (prior to intervention), within 1 week following end of intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Missouri-Columbia
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jennifer Y Stone, DPT, University of Missouri Health Care

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 14, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 6, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 6, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): August 8, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 17, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 14, 2020
• Last Verified: December 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: postpartum; diastasis recti; diastasis rectus
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Joint Dislocations; Diastasis, Muscle
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2016673

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No
• IPD Plan Description: Only the person who is doing data input will have access to IPD.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No