Effects of a Physiotherapy Protocol With Kinesiotherapy Involving Abdominal Exercises and Physical Agents in Reducing Inter-rectus Distance in Postpartum Women With Abdominal Diastasis: Randomized Clinical Trial [ID 1572]

INTRODUCTION: Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle (DRAM) is a common postpartum condition characterized by the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles. Associated with factors like pregnancy and weight gain, DRAM can negatively affect women’s health and quality of life. This randomized clinical trial examines a physiotherapy protocol combining kinesiotherapy and physical agents to reduce the inter-rectus distance (IRD) in women with DRAM more than 6 months postpartum. METHODS: The study involved 60 women diagnosed with DRAM, divided into three groups: kinesiotherapy (group A), therapy with physical agents (group B), and a combination of both (group C). Participants were evaluated before and after treatment, with re-evaluation conducted 60 days after the initial assessment, using ultrasound and abdominal perimeter measurements. RESULTS: In group C, there was a reduction of 0.80 cm in the supraumbilical IRD compared to group B, with no significant difference compared to group A. In the infraumbilical assessment, the IRD reduction was 0.74 cm compared to group A and 0.85 cm compared to group B. In the abdominal perimeter measurements, there was a reduction of 10 cm in the infraumbilical abdominal circumference in favor of groups B and C when compared to group A. There was no difference between the groups in the supraumbilical and umbilical regions. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The combination of a kinesiotherapy protocol involving abdominal exercises and physical agents (tecar therapy, electromagnetic shock waves, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation) reduces the IRD and abdominal circumference in women with abdominal diastasis 6 months postpartum.