Effect of Pilates Exercises on Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Postpartum Women

NCT ID: NCT06311201

Last Updated: 2024-03-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 50 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-09-26
• Study Completion Date: 2024-01-26

Brief Summary

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of Pilates exercises on diastasis recti abdominis in postpartum women.

Detailed Description

Rectus diastasis is relatively common having negative health consequences for women during and after pregnancy (ante-and postnatal periods). Varying estimates of incidence of rectus diastasis have been reported ranging from 66% to 100% during the third trimester of pregnancy, and up to 53% immediately after delivery. Among patients with urogynecological disorders, 52% were found to have a rectus diastasis and 66% had at least one type of pelvic floor dysfunction.

A diastasis can contribute to lower back pain and strain due to other muscles being overworked or compensating for the lack of integrity of abdominals, unstable core, pelvic and back muscles, poor posture, shallow breathing and uterine prolapse. This may result in altered trunk mechanics, impaired pelvic stability and changed posture, which leave the lumbar spine and pelvis more vulnerable to injury.

Facilitation, concentric activation, and stabilization of the abdominal muscles occurred during core stability exercise are used to correct diastasis recti. Pilates has been known to improve the strength and flexibility of muscles, particularly the abdominal muscles, lower back, hip and buttocks i.e. the core musculature thus helping in improving core stability.

Uptill now, there was no previous studies have examined the impact of Pilates training on rectus abdominis diastasis in postpartum women. So, this study will be valuable benefits for medical services organizations and will increase body of knowledge of physical therapists in scientific field.

Conditions

Diastasis Recti

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Abdominal belt

It consisted of 25 postpartum women who wore abdominal belt for 8 weeks.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Abdominal belt

Intervention Type: OTHER

This was used for all women in both groups (A and B) for 8 weeks starting from the 7th days after delivery. The women was asked to wear the abdominal belt throughout the day except when bathing, eating and sleeping. The binder was worn over the skin directly or on a thin layer of clothing. The side of the abdominal binder without the straps was pulled over by the woman's stomach with one hand. The side of the binder with straps was stretched across the stomach and pulled to the center of the abdomen. The straps then was fitted into the buckles. Women were instructed not to wear the binder too tight or too loose as it might irritate the skin and produce difficulty in breathing creating discomfort. They were asked to inspect their skin regularly for any signs of sensitivity.

Abdominal belt + Pilates exercises

It consisted of 25 postpartum women who followed Pilates training program, 3 times/week for 1 hour the session in addition to wearing abdominal belt, for 8 weeks

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Abdominal belt

Intervention Type: OTHER

This was used for all women in both groups (A and B) for 8 weeks starting from the 7th days after delivery. The women was asked to wear the abdominal belt throughout the day except when bathing, eating and sleeping. The binder was worn over the skin directly or on a thin layer of clothing. The side of the abdominal binder without the straps was pulled over by the woman's stomach with one hand. The side of the binder with straps was stretched across the stomach and pulled to the center of the abdomen. The straps then was fitted into the buckles. Women were instructed not to wear the binder too tight or too loose as it might irritate the skin and produce difficulty in breathing creating discomfort. They were asked to inspect their skin regularly for any signs of sensitivity.

Pilates exercises

Intervention Type: OTHER

The Pilates exercise program for the study group (B) consisted of a 10-minute warm-up with low-intensity exercises, followed by a 40-minute central part with floor exercises like leg circles, kicks, and stretches. It included the classic "hundred" exercise, performed with proper form. Each exercise had two sets of 10 repetitions. The session ended with a 10-minute cool-down of stretching exercises, supervised by a physical therapist. The program was conducted three times per week, one hour per session, for eight weeks, starting from the 7th day after delivery.

Interventions

Abdominal belt

This was used for all women in both groups (A and B) for 8 weeks starting from the 7th days after delivery. The women was asked to wear the abdominal belt throughout the day except when bathing, eating and sleeping. The binder was worn over the skin directly or on a thin layer of clothing. The side of the abdominal binder without the straps was pulled over by the woman's stomach with one hand. The side of the binder with straps was stretched across the stomach and pulled to the center of the abdomen. The straps then was fitted into the buckles. Women were instructed not to wear the binder too tight or too loose as it might irritate the skin and produce difficulty in breathing creating discomfort. They were asked to inspect their skin regularly for any signs of sensitivity.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Pilates exercises

The Pilates exercise program for the study group (B) consisted of a 10-minute warm-up with low-intensity exercises, followed by a 40-minute central part with floor exercises like leg circles, kicks, and stretches. It included the classic "hundred" exercise, performed with proper form. Each exercise had two sets of 10 repetitions. The session ended with a 10-minute cool-down of stretching exercises, supervised by a physical therapist. The program was conducted three times per week, one hour per session, for eight weeks, starting from the 7th day after delivery.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Postpartum women (7 days after delivery) having diastasis recti (separation between the two recti more than 2.5cm at the level of umbilicus).

2. Multiparous women (2-3) times delivered vaginally with or without episiotomy.

3. Their age ranged from 20 -35 years old.

4. Their BMI was less than 30 kg/cm2.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Abdominal or back surgery.

2. Abdominal hernia.

3. History of abnormal pregnancy, uterine fibroid or polyhydraminos during pregnancy.

4. Neurological disorders as multiple sclerosis, stroke and spinal lesion.

5. Musculoskeletal diseases such as fractures muscle strains, severe knee osteoarthritis which may affect their physical activity.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 20 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Cairo University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Asmaa Esam Ghareeb Hasan

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Azza BN Kassab, Prof.

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Cairo University

Locations

Cairo University

Giza, , Egypt

Countries

Egypt

Other Identifiers

P.T.REC/012/004256

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id