The aim of this study is to compare the effect of a hypopressive abdominal exercise program versus a general strengthening exercise program on inter-recti distance, abdominal and lumbar muscle thickness, lumbopelvic and abdominal pain and function, pelvic floor dysfunction, and quality of life in postpartum women. To evaluate the effects of the interventions, the subjects will be assessed at pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention and at 3-months follow-up.
The aim of this study is to compare the effect of a hypopressive abdominal exercise program versus a general strengthening exercise program on inter-recti distance, abdominal and lumbar muscle thickness, lumbopelvic and abdominal pain and function, pelvic floor dysfunction, and quality of life in postpartum women. To evaluate the effects of the hypopressive exercise, the subjects will be assessed at pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention and at 3-months follow-up. It will consist of a randomized controlled trial study. The sample will consist of women in the early postpartum period (6-8 weeks after delivery). Subjects will be randomly allocated to two different exercise programs: hypopressive abdominal exercise program and general strengthening exercise program. Both interventions will have a total duration of 6 weeks (18 sessions), 3 times a week, 30 minutes each session. To evaluate the effects of the interventions, the subjects will be assessed at pre-intervention (6th-8th week postpartum), immediately post-intervention (12th-14th week postpartum) and at 3-months follow-up (24th-26th week postpartum). Inter-recti distance, abdominal and lumbar muscle thickness, lumbopelvic and abdominal pain and function, pelvic floor dysfunction, and quality of life will be measured.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
58
Participants will perform an hypopressive abdominal exercise program consisting of 18 sessions (6 weeks), 3 times a week, 30 minutes each session.
Participants will perform a general strengthening exercise program consisting of 18 sessions (6 weeks), 3 times a week, 30 minutes each session.
Mercè Balasch i Bernat
Valencia, Spain
Inter-recti distance
Inter-recti distance will be measured by ultrasonography at rest, during abdominal draw-in and abdominal curl-up, at 2 locations on the linea alba (2 cm above and below the umbilicus).
Time frame: pre-intervention
Inter-recti distance
Inter-recti distance will be measured by ultrasonography at rest, during abdominal draw-in and abdominal curl-up, at 2 locations on the linea alba (2 cm above and below the umbilicus).
Time frame: immediately post-intervention
Inter-recti distance
Inter-recti distance will be measured by ultrasonography at rest, during abdominal draw-in and abdominal curl-up, at 2 locations on the linea alba (2 cm above and below the umbilicus).
Time frame: 3-months follow-up
Abdominal and lumbar muscles thickness
Transversus abdominis, obliquus internus, obliquus externus and multifidus thickness at rest and during draw-in will be measured by ultrasonography.
Time frame: pre-intervention
Abdominal and lumbar muscles thickness
Transversus abdominis, obliquus internus, obliquus externus and multifidus thickness at rest and during draw-in will be measured by ultrasonography.
Time frame: immediately post-intervention
Abdominal and lumbar muscles thickness
Transversus abdominis, obliquus internus, obliquus externus and multifidus thickness at rest and during draw-in will be measured by ultrasonography.
Time frame: 3-months follow-up
Lumbopelvic and abdominal pain
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Lumbopelvic and abdominal pain reported by the patient will be measured using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-100, 0=minimum score, 100=maximum score). Lower values represent a better outcome (less pain).
Time frame: pre-intervention
Lumbopelvic and abdominal pain
Lumbopelvic and abdominal pain reported by the patient will be measured using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-100, 0=minimum score, 100=maximum score). Lower values represent a better outcome (less pain).
Time frame: immediately post-intervention
Lumbopelvic and abdominal pain
Lumbopelvic and abdominal pain reported by the patient will be measured using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-100, 0=minimum score, 100=maximum score). Lower values represent a better outcome (less pain).
Time frame: 3-months follow-up
Lumbopelvic and abdominal muscles function
Lumbopelvic and abdominal muscles function will be tested with the supine bridge test, the prone bridge test and the lateral bridge test.
Time frame: pre-intervention
Lumbopelvic and abdominal muscles function
Lumbopelvic and abdominal muscles function will be tested with the supine bridge test, the prone bridge test and the lateral bridge test.
Time frame: immediately post-intervention
Lumbopelvic and abdominal muscles function
Lumbopelvic and abdominal muscles function will be tested with the supine bridge test, the prone bridge test and the lateral bridge test.
Time frame: 3-months follow-up
Lumbar disability
Lumbar disability will be evaluated by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Time frame: pre-intervention
Lumbar disability
Lumbar disability will be evaluated by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Time frame: immediately post-intervention
Lumbar disability
Lumbar disability will be evaluated by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Time frame: 3-months follow-up
Severity of the urinary incontinence
The severity of the urinary incontinence will be assessed using the Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-IU-SF) (0-21).
Time frame: pre-intervention
Severity of the urinary incontinence
The severity of the urinary incontinence will be assessed using the Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-IU-SF) (0-21).
Time frame: immediately post-intervention
Severity of the urinary incontinence
The severity of the urinary incontinence will be assessed using the Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-IU-SF) (0-21).
Time frame: 3-months follow-up
Sexual dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction will be assessed using the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6) (5-30).
Time frame: pre-intervention
Sexual dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction will be assessed using the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6) (5-30).
Time frame: immediately post-intervention
Sexual dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction will be assessed using the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6) (5-30).
Time frame: 3-months follow-up
Self-reported quality of life
Self-reported quality of life will be evaluated with the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). In this scale, higher scores indicate higher quality of life.
Time frame: pre-intervention
Self-reported quality of life
Self-reported quality of life will be evaluated with the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). In this scale, higher scores indicate higher quality of life.
Time frame: immediately post-intervention
Self-reported quality of life
Self-reported quality of life will be evaluated with the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). In this scale, higher scores indicate higher quality of life.
Time frame: 3-months follow-up