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

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

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

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

34

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
        • 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

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
Intervention / Treatment
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

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

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • 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)

October 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 4, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID 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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