Diastasis recti abdominis, or rectus diastasis, is the separation of the two parts of the rectus abdominis muscle along the midline of the linea alba, without any visible defect in the fascia. Diastasis recti abdominis is most frequent during pregnancy and postpartum especially, after cesarean birth.
Cesarean births were linked to significant post-operative changes in the thickness of abdominal fasciae and muscles when compared to vaginal births and these changes may be involved in the higher rates of diastasis recti post-cesarean births. Managing diastasis recti abdominis begins with its diagnosis, followed by targeted interventions. Diagnosis usually involves manual palpation to estimate the gap between the rectus abdominis muscles along the tendinous sheet of the linea alba. Updated imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, are now more frequently used for diagnosis. Treatment either surgical or conservative; emphasizes physical therapy and personalized exercise programs. This method targets strengthening specific core muscles, such as the transverse abdominis and the pelvic floor.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
40
The mobile app-guided exercise program initially asks the mother questions to collect information. These questions were about their motivation for exercise, the main exercise goal, and the area of focus in the exercise program
The traditional abdominal exercises program consisted of simple static abdominal exercises, graduated curl-ups, and corrected abdominal crunches with posterior pelvic tilting
Faculty of physical therapy, South Valley University
Qina, Qena Governorate, Egypt
Inter-recti Separation
The distance between the medial borders of the rectus abdominis muscles measured in Centimeters (cm) by the diagnostic Ultrasound.
Time frame: Assessment was done pre treatment sessions and immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions
Abdominal muscle strength
A manual muscle test was used to assess the strength of rectus abdominis and abdominal obliques measured as an ordinal scale by a grading system of: Grade 0: No movement and no palpable contractions are evident. * Grade 1: No movement is possible but a flicker of a muscle contraction may be palpated. * Grade 2: With the arms held outstretched in front of the trunk, the patient lifts the head and cervical spine off the plinth. The scapulae remain on the plinth. * Grade 3: With the arms held outstretched in front of the trunk, the patient lifts the inferior angles of the scapulae clear of the plinth. * Grade 4: With the arms positioned across the chest, the patient lifts the inferior angles of the scapulae clear of the plinth. * Grade 5: With the hands positioned beside the ears, the patient lifts the inferior angles of the scapulae clear of the plinth.
Time frame: Assessment was done pre treatment sessions and immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions
Girth measurements
A tape measure examined waist, Umbilical, and Hip circumferences in centimeters (cm).
Time frame: Assessment was done pre treatment sessions and immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions
Satisfaction level
A Questionnaire was used to assess the level of patient satisfaction with each treatment (grade 0; non-satisfaction for those have less than 9-10 on the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP), and 1; satisfaction for those who have 9-10 on the MYMOP.
Time frame: Assessment was done immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions
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