Diastasis Recti
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this study was to compare participants with increased symptoms after index pregnancy with those reporting no change in back pain or subjective movement control and analyzed their inter rectus distance (IRD). This study is a case-control study of a cohort of women who had delivered a year earlier. We recruited participants with increased symptoms (n=14) after index pregnancy and controls (n=41) and recorded their inter rectus distance with ultrasound. A questionnaire was filled, and an ultrasound was performed two times for the study groups.
Detailed description
A case control study was conducted in Helsinki University Hospital during 1.1.2018-31.3.2021. Participants were enrolled in pregnancy screening unit. Exclusion criteria was pregnancy during the second questionnaire and body mass index over 28kg/m2. The first questionnaire was filled and the baseline width of linea alba was measured by abdominal ultrasound (US) in connection of the first early pregnancy screening during 1.1.2018-8.3.2019. The second electronic questionnaire was sent a year after the expected delivery timing. Two screening questions were used to grade the participants. Altogether 36 individuals scored at least five points reflecting to substantial increase in symptoms in screening questions in the second questionnaire after pregnancy out of which fourteen participants were randomly recruited. Another 94 individuals scored the lowest possible two points implicating no change in ones bodily experience. Three controls per case were recruited, altogether 42 controls and with one dropout the total number of controls was 41. All participants had at least 12 months from the last delivery. Two physiotherapists conducted motor control tests and the width of linea alba was measured with a high-end ultrasound. The physiotherapists were blinded with group allocation and the previous IRD measurement. Participants did not know their own exposure status or their IRD when answering the questionnaires.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Helsinki University Central Hospital
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age over 18 years
Exclusion criteria
* Body mass index (BMI) over 28 kg/m2 ( weight and height combined to report BMI in kg/m\^2 * Ongoing pregnancy during the second questionnaire, a year after the index pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Inter rectus diameter | A year after index pregnancy | Ultra sound measurement of linea alba widht |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pelvic tilt | A year after index pregnancy | Lumbar extension motor control test performed in a standardized manner, with dichotomous rating of correct and non-correct performance. Rating was performed by a blinded specialist of physiotherapy from video recording. |
| One leg stance-test | A year after index pregnancy | Postural and balance control control test performed in a standardized manner, with dichotomous rating of correct and non-correct performance. Rating was performed by a blinded specialist of physiotherapy from video recording. |
| Waiter's bow | A year after index pregnancy | Lumbar flexion motor control test performed in a standardized manner, with dichotomous rating of correct and non-correct performance. Rating was performed by a blinded specialist of physiotherapy from video recording. |
| Sit up test | A year after index pregnancy | Arms crossed in front of the chest, elbows touch the knees in upright position. Sole can rise from the floor only slightly so that the angle of the hip does not change. Performance was video recorded and rating was performed by a blinded specialist of physiotherapy. |
| RAND36 HRQoL | A year after index pregnancy | RAND36 HRQoL survey each item is scored on a 0 to 100 range so that the lowest and highest possible scores are 0 and 100, respectively |
| Active straight leg test | A year after index pregnancy | Lumbar spine stability and abdominal bracing ability test performed in a standardized manner, with dichotomous rating of correct and non-correct performance. Rating was performed by a blinded specialist of physiotherapy from video recording. |
Countries
Finland
Outcome results
None listed