Curl-up exercises improve abdominal muscle strength without worsening inter-recti distance in women with diastasis recti abdominis postpartum: a randomised controlled trial

Key Points

1. Abdominal exercises do not appear to worsen or increase Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA).

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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) is a common phenomenon that occurs during pregnancy and may persist in the post-partum period. While very common, there is not yet standardized approaches for measuring, diagnosing, or treating DRA in the post-partum population (1).

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a 12-week home-based abdominal exercise program on the inter-recti distance (IRD) in women 6 to 12 months post-partum. An additional aim of the study was to see if the intervention impacted abdominal muscle strength or endurance, rectus abdominis thickness, pelvic floor disorders, pain, or global perceived change.

There is not yet standardized approaches for measuring, diagnosing, or treating Diastasis rectus abdominis in the post-partum population.

Abdominal exercises may not reduce the Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA), but the abdominal exercises did make the abdominal muscles stronger without worsening the DRA.

METHODS

• Women diagnosed with DRA 6 to 12 months post-partum were included in this assessor-blinded, two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial.

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