Women with diastasis recti abdominis might have weaker abdominal muscles and more abdominal pain, but no higher prevalence of pelvic floor disorders, low back and pelvic girdle pain than women without diastasis recti abdominis

Review written by Dr Sandy Hilton info

Key Points

  1. Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is an impairment in the separation along the linea alba between the two rectus abdominus muscles.
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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is a distressing event for some people in pregnancy as it has a social construct of “damage” to the abdominals and a risk of further loss of function, as well as visual disturbance of the previously “normal” abdominals. This is not to be discounted as the changes in pregnancy to the body are significant and meaningful to the person.

DRA is not uncommon despite the social implications, and it is also not a permanent condition for most. The authors of this paper set out to look at the relationship between DRA and low back pain, pelvic disorders, and pelvic girdle pain.

Prevalence of diastasis recti abdominis post-partum is up to 60% at 6 weeks, and this reduces to 33% by one year.
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We should help people understand their structural integrity and help them get back to a healthy exercise program.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study utilized local participants and their community connections to measure the pelvic function, abdominal pain, and pelvic girdle pain in those with and without increased DRA. 36 participants with DRA were matched with 36 participants without DRA.

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