Effects of Corrective Versus Plank Exercises on Diastasis Recti

April 2, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Corrective Versus Plank Exercises on Strength, Inter Recti Distance and Pain in Females With Diastasis Recti

This study will be randomized clinical trial and will be conducted in Services Hospital and poly clinics. The total duration of treatment will be 12 weeks. Non-probability convenience sampling technique will be used and 56 participants will be recruited in study after randomization. The participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group A performs corrective exercises focused on deep core engagement, while Group B performs plank exercises aimed at overall abdominal activation. Each group follows their respective regimen three times per week for 12 weeks. Baseline EMS and pelvic floor exercises are conducted for all participants to ensure core stability before the interventions begin. Outcome measures, including manual muscle testing (MMT) for strength, and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain, are recorded both before and after the 12-week intervention. After data collection data will be analyzed by using SPSS version 25.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

56

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 6400
        • Recruiting
        • Services Hospital
        • Contact:
          • adeela arif, t-DPT
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Fazeela Tahir, 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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • If IRD is greater than 4cm and above
  • Postpartum females
  • Three months to three years postpartum with presence of diastasis rectus abdominis
  • Vaginal delivery
  • Multiparous
  • Pain greater than 6 on NPRS

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects with any heart condition, respiratory condition
  • Any pelvic or abdominal surgery
  • Any neurological disease eg preeclampsia, epilepsy
  • Trauma to bowel or bladder
  • Prior history of physical therapy treatment for pelvic floor issues
  • Postpartum depression

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: corrective exercises
During weeks 1-4, the program emphasized low-load activation, including transversus abdominis (TrA) drawing-in activation, posterior pelvic tilting, and modified heel slides performed with strict abdominal control. In weeks 5-8, progression was achieved through increased hold times, higher repetitions, slower tempo, and the gradual introduction of light resistance or functional integration cues where tolerated. In weeks 9-12, participants progressed toward functional core integration and advanced control exercises such as dead bug variations,
Other: corrective exercises
restoration of trunk stability, and reduction of IRD through improved tensioning of the linea alba. During weeks 1-4, the program emphasized low-load activation, including transversus abdominis (TrA) drawing-in activation, posterior pelvic tilting, and modified heel slides performed with strict abdominal control. In weeks 5-8, progression was achieved through increased hold times, higher repetitions, slower tempo, and the gradual introduction of light resistance or functional integration cues where tolerated. In weeks 9-12, participants progressed toward functional core integration and advanced control exercises such as dead bug variations,
Experimental: PLANK EXERCISES
In weeks 1-4, the program began with modified plank positions using knee-and-elbow support and modified side planks, with short hold durations and adequate rest intervals. During weeks 5-8, hold times were progressively increased, and participants were introduced to controlled plank variations such as weight-shifts or arm reach tasks depending on tolerance and maintenance of neutral spine control. In weeks 9-12, progression was aimed toward longer holds and more advanced stabilization tasks, including leg lifts in plank and progression toward full plank positions
Other: Plank Exercise
In weeks 1-4, the program began with modified plank positions using knee-and-elbow support and modified side planks, with short hold durations and adequate rest intervals. During weeks 5-8, hold times were progressively increased, and participants were introduced to controlled plank variations such as weight-shifts or arm reach tasks depending on tolerance and maintenance of neutral spine control. In weeks 9-12, progression was aimed toward longer holds and more advanced stabilization tasks, including leg lifts in plank and progression toward full plank positions

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
NPRS
Time Frame: 12th week
The Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is a subjective measure in which individuals rate their pain on an eleven-point numerical scale. The scale is composed of 0 (no pain at all) to 10 (worst imaginable pain. The NPRS is a widely used patient reported outcome scale.27-29 The ordinal 11-point NPRS (0-no pain, 10-most intense pain) is the most commonly used version which has good test-retest reliability (r=.79-.96) in individuals with chronic pain and musculoskeletal pathology.
12th week
• MMT
Time Frame: 12th week
MMT is the most commonly used method for documenting impairments in muscle strength. Manual muscle testing is used in rehabilitation and recovery to evaluate contractile units, including muscles and tendons, and their ability to generate forces. Reliability of strength MMT grade of lower extremity is 66-0.90. There are six grades of MMT i.e. Grade 5 (Normal), Grade 4 (Good), Grade 3+ (Fair), Grade 2+ (Poor), Grade 1 (Trace) and Grade 0 (Zero)
12th week
inter-recti distance
Time Frame: 12th week
The subjects were in supine resting position with the knees bent at 90° and feet resting on the plinth, arms alongside the body. After instruction in how to perform an abdominal crunch the subjects were asked to raise the head and shoulders upwards until the shoulder blades cleared the table. One physiotherapist placed the fingers vertically on the subject's Linea Alba in a way that fingers widths could fit the distance between the internal borders of the two rectus abdominis muscles. Using the center of the umbilicus as a reference, measurements were taken in two previously marked locations: one being 2 cm above the umbilicus and the other being 2 cm below the umbilicus.
12th week
Oswestry Disability Index
Time Frame: 12th week
The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is defined as a validated metric that assesses a patient's perceived level of disability through a 10-question assessment, yielding a numerical score from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate greater disability
12th week

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: adeela arif, t-DPT, 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)

January 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 23, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 2, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • REC/RCR&AHS/24/0536

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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