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Efficacy of Abdominal Exercises with and without Elastic Therapeutic Taping in Reducing Diastasis – Recti Among Post-Partal Females
Corresponding Author(s) : Vishakha Kadam
International Journal of Allied Medical Sciences and Clinical Research,
Vol. 12 No. 3 (2024): 2024 Volume -12 - Issue 3
Abstract
Pregnancy induces significant physical and mental transformations. The expanding uterus and fetus exert increased pressure on the abdominal muscles and connective tissues. These forces often cause the linea alba to stretch and occasionally split, leading to diastasis recti. Diastasis recti can contribute to lower back pain and strain due to overworked or compensatory muscles, unstable core, pelvic and back muscles, poor posture, shallow breathing, and uterine prolapse. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of abdominal exercises alone and abdominal exercises combined with elastic therapeutic taping in reducing diastasis recti in postpartum females, and to compare their respective effects. Thirty postpartum females were randomly assigned to two groups- control and taping group with fifteen females in each group. Control group was provided with conventional exercises like Static abdominal exercise, Head lift, Head lift and pelvic tilt, Pelvic clock exercise which were to be done twice a day with a repetition of 5-7 times for a duration of 4 weeks. Another group of was given exercises in addition to elastic therapeutic taping. Tape was applied in a crisscross design, beginning just below the breast and extending to the superior pubis, twice a week for 4 weeks on the rectus abdominis. Ultrasonography was used to measure diastasis recti before and after the study. The result showed that conventional exercises, as well as conventional exercises combined with taping, are effective in reducing diastasis recti in postpartum females. However, it is found that taping in conjunction with conventional exercises is more effective.
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- Axer, H., Keyserlingk, D.G., Prescher, A. Collagen fibers in linea alba and rectus sheaths. I. General scheme and morphological aspects. Journal of Surgical Research, 2001; 96(1): 127-134
- Boissonnault, J.S. and Blaschak, M.J. Incidence of diastasis recti abdominis during the childbearing year. Physical Therapy. 1988; 68(7): 1082-86.
- Gilleard, W.L. and Brown, J.M.M. Structure and function of the abdominal muscles in primigravid subjects during pregnancy and the immediate postbirth period. Physical Therapy. 1996; 76(7):746-756.
- Hsia, M. and Jones, S. Natural resolution of rectus abdominis diastasis: two single case studies. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 2000; 46: 301-307.
- Rath, A.M., Attali, P., Dumas, J.L., Goldlust, D., Zhang, J. and Chevrel, J.P. The abdominal linea alba: an anatomoradiologic and biomechanical study. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 1996; 18: 281-288.
- Lo, T., Candido, G., Janssen, P. Diastasis of the rectus abdominis in pregnancy: risk factors and treatment. Physiotherapy Canada, 1999; 51: 32-36, 44.
- Coldron, Y., Stokes, M., Newham, D., Cook, K. Postpartum characteristics of rectus abdominis on ultrasound imaging. Manuel Therapy, 2008; 13:112-121.
- Bursch, S.G. Interrater reliability of diastasis recti abdominis measurement. Physical Therapy, 1987; 67: 1077-1079.
- Richardson, C.A., Jull, G., Hodges, P.W. and Hides, J.A. Back pain and lumbopelvic stabilisation: the case for the local muscle system. In: Richardson, C.A., Jull, G., Hodges, P.W. and Hides, J.A., editors. Therapeutic exercise for spinal segmental stabilisation in low back pain: scientific basis and clinical approach. London: Churchill Livingstone, 1999. pp.1-10.
- Lee, D.G., Lee, L.J. and McLaughlin, L. Stability, continence and breathing: the role of fascia following pregnancy and delivery. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2008; 12, pp.333-348.
- Fast, A., Weiss, L., Ducommun, E.J., Medina, E. and Butler, J.G. Low-back pain in pregnancy: abdominal muscles, sit-up performance, and back pain. Spine, 1990; 15(1), pp.28-30.
- Liaw, L.-J., Hsu, M.-J., Liao, C.-F., Liu, M.-F. and Hsu, A.-T. The relationships between inter-recti distance measured by ultrasound imaging and abdominal muscle function in postpartum women: a 6-month follow-up study. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2011; 41(6), pp.435-443.
- Acharry, N. and Kutty, R.K. Abdominal exercise with bracing: therapeutic efficacy in reducing diastasis recti among postpartal females. International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research, 2015; 3(2), pp.999-1005. ISSN 2321-1822.
- Bassett, K.T., Lingman, S.A. The use and treatment of kinaesthetic taping for musculoskeletal conditions. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 2010; 38(2):77-82.
- Keshwani, N. Ultrasound imaging in postpartum women with diastasis recti: Intrarater between-session reliability. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2015; 45(9): 689-695.
- Candido, G., Lo, T. and Janssen, P. Risk factors for diastasis of the recti abdominis. Journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women's Health, 2005; 97:49-54.
References
Axer, H., Keyserlingk, D.G., Prescher, A. Collagen fibers in linea alba and rectus sheaths. I. General scheme and morphological aspects. Journal of Surgical Research, 2001; 96(1): 127-134
Boissonnault, J.S. and Blaschak, M.J. Incidence of diastasis recti abdominis during the childbearing year. Physical Therapy. 1988; 68(7): 1082-86.
Gilleard, W.L. and Brown, J.M.M. Structure and function of the abdominal muscles in primigravid subjects during pregnancy and the immediate postbirth period. Physical Therapy. 1996; 76(7):746-756.
Hsia, M. and Jones, S. Natural resolution of rectus abdominis diastasis: two single case studies. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 2000; 46: 301-307.
Rath, A.M., Attali, P., Dumas, J.L., Goldlust, D., Zhang, J. and Chevrel, J.P. The abdominal linea alba: an anatomoradiologic and biomechanical study. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 1996; 18: 281-288.
Lo, T., Candido, G., Janssen, P. Diastasis of the rectus abdominis in pregnancy: risk factors and treatment. Physiotherapy Canada, 1999; 51: 32-36, 44.
Coldron, Y., Stokes, M., Newham, D., Cook, K. Postpartum characteristics of rectus abdominis on ultrasound imaging. Manuel Therapy, 2008; 13:112-121.
Bursch, S.G. Interrater reliability of diastasis recti abdominis measurement. Physical Therapy, 1987; 67: 1077-1079.
Richardson, C.A., Jull, G., Hodges, P.W. and Hides, J.A. Back pain and lumbopelvic stabilisation: the case for the local muscle system. In: Richardson, C.A., Jull, G., Hodges, P.W. and Hides, J.A., editors. Therapeutic exercise for spinal segmental stabilisation in low back pain: scientific basis and clinical approach. London: Churchill Livingstone, 1999. pp.1-10.
Lee, D.G., Lee, L.J. and McLaughlin, L. Stability, continence and breathing: the role of fascia following pregnancy and delivery. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2008; 12, pp.333-348.
Fast, A., Weiss, L., Ducommun, E.J., Medina, E. and Butler, J.G. Low-back pain in pregnancy: abdominal muscles, sit-up performance, and back pain. Spine, 1990; 15(1), pp.28-30.
Liaw, L.-J., Hsu, M.-J., Liao, C.-F., Liu, M.-F. and Hsu, A.-T. The relationships between inter-recti distance measured by ultrasound imaging and abdominal muscle function in postpartum women: a 6-month follow-up study. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2011; 41(6), pp.435-443.
Acharry, N. and Kutty, R.K. Abdominal exercise with bracing: therapeutic efficacy in reducing diastasis recti among postpartal females. International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research, 2015; 3(2), pp.999-1005. ISSN 2321-1822.
Bassett, K.T., Lingman, S.A. The use and treatment of kinaesthetic taping for musculoskeletal conditions. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 2010; 38(2):77-82.
Keshwani, N. Ultrasound imaging in postpartum women with diastasis recti: Intrarater between-session reliability. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2015; 45(9): 689-695.
Candido, G., Lo, T. and Janssen, P. Risk factors for diastasis of the recti abdominis. Journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women's Health, 2005; 97:49-54.