IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLE EXERCISES IN WOMEN WITH DIASTESIS RECTI ABDOMINIS

Aim:The aim of this study was to find immediate effect of pelvic floor muscles exercise in women with diastasis recti abdominis.

Method: In this experimental study, 34 women who were parous, with a mean age of 36.2 years (SD = 5.2), diagnosed with DRA participated. IRD was assessed with 2-dimensional real-time ultrasonography during rest and during 8 randomly ordered different exercises. A paired t test was used to compare the IRD at rest with the IRD recorded during each exercise as well as the differences between exercises. Means with 95% CI are reported.

Result:Head lift and twisted curl-up exercises significantly decreased the IRD both above and below the umbilicus. Above the umbilicus, the mean IRD difference from rest during head lift was 10 mm (95% CI = 7 to 13.2), whereas during twisted curl-up it was 9.4 mm (95% CI = 6.3 to 12.5). Below the umbilicus, the corresponding values were 6.1 mm (95% CI = 3.2 to 8.9) and 3.5 mm (95% CI = 0.5 to 6.4), respectively, but PFM contraction, maximal in-drawing, and PFM contraction + maximal in-drawing increased the IRD (mean difference = -2.8 mm [95% CI = -5.2 to 0.5], -4.7 mm [95% CI = -7.2 to -2.1], and - 5.0 mm [95% CI = -7.9 to -2.1], respectively).

Conclusion:Head lift and twisted curl-up exercises decreased the IRD both above and below the umbilicus, whereas maximal in-drawing and PFM contraction exercises only increased the IRD below the umbilicus. A randomized controlled trial is needed to investigate whether head lift and twisted curl-up exercises are effective in permanently narrowing the IRD.