Women with Rectus Diastasis Feel Neglected by Health Professionals: A Qualitative Interview Study

<sec><title>Backgrounds</title> Abdominal rectus diastasis is a condition where the abdominal rectus muscles are abnormally separated due to widening of the linea alba. Pregnancy is a main risk factor. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, lumbar back pain, urogynecological problems, and impaired quality of life. If rectus diastasis is symptomatic, physiotherapy is the first line of treatment. The aim of this study was to explore discomforts, symptoms, problems, obstacles, and considerations that women with rectus diastasis postpartum have before seeking treatment. </sec><sec><title>Methods</title> This was a qualitative study with a hermeneutic/phenomenological orientation and was set in Copenhagen, Denmark. The participants were women diagnosed with rectus diastasis who were recruited from a single physiotherapy clinic, either at the start of treatment, during treatment, or after completing treatment. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. A conventional content analysis was used to derive themes from the data. </sec><sec><title>Results</title> Ten women were included. Two themes emerged from the interviews: “Women with rectus diastasis experience impaired quality of life and limitations in their everyday life” and “Women with rectus diastasis feel neglected by health professionals and instead have to obtain knowledge of their condition and treatment options from internet searches”. </sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title> Health professionals should have rectus diastasis in mind in women postpartum, including those with potentially related symptoms, such as low back pain. We encourage health professionals to recognize and take responsibility for diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic rectus diastasis. </sec>