The Effect of Conservative Interventions on the Signs and Symptoms of Diastasis Recti

The Effect of Exercise Therapy and/or Abdominal Binding on Inter-rectus Distance, Abdominal Muscle Strength, Lumbopelvic and Urogynecological Complaints, Perceived Function, and Body Image in Post-partum Women With Diastasis Recti

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT02268110

Enrollment

Registered

2014-10-20

Start date

2014-08-31

Completion date

2018-05-31

Last updated

2018-09-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diastasis Recti And Weakness Of The Linea Alba

Keywords

diastasis recti, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, abdominal binding

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of two different physiotherapeutic interventions (exercise therapy and/or abdominal binding) on the signs and symptoms of diastasis recti in post-partum women.

Detailed description

This study is investigating the effect of exercise therapy and/or abdominal binding on inter-rectus distance, abdominal muscle strength and endurance, lumbopelvic dysfunction, urogynecological complaints, perceived function, and body image in post-partum women with diastasis recti

Interventions

OTHERExercise therapy

Supervised exercise therapy with a 12 week progressive abdominal exercise home program for

OTHERAbdominal binding

Wearing an abdominal binder for 12 weeks

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

FEMALE

Age

18 Years to 35 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* 18 to 35 years old * given birth to their first child, vaginally, in the last three to four weeks * inter-rectus distance of two finger widths of greater on palpation during head lift

Exclusion criteria

* history of persistent pain with intercourse prior to pregnancy * diagnosed with neurological impairments affecting the central nervous system or sacral nerves * diagnosed with connective tissue disorders

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in Inter-Rectus Distance	baseline, 12 weeks post intervention, 9 months post intervention	Measured using ultrasound imaging

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in Body image	baseline, 12 weeks post intervention, 9 months post intervention	measured using the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire
Change in Lumbopelvic dysfunction	baseline, 12 weeks post intervention, 9 months post intervention	measured using Modified Oswestry Questionnaire
Change in Abdominal Strength and Endurance	baseline, 12 weeks post intervention, 9 months post intervention	measured using clinical tests and hand-held dynamometry
Change in Severity of Lumbopelvic and/or Abdominal Pain	baseline, 12 weeks post intervention, 9 months post intervention	Visual Analog Scale
Change in Perceived Function	baseline, 12 weeks post intervention, 9 months post intervention	Inventory of Functional Status After Childbirth Questionnaire
Change in Urogynecological Complaints	baseline, 12 weeks post intervention, 9 months post intervention	measured using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026