Diastasis recti abdominis — a review of treatment methods

Abstract

Diastasis recti abdominis is a condition in which both rectus abdominis muscles disintegrate to the sides, this being accompanied by the extension of the linea alba tissue and bulging of the abdominal wall. DRA may result in the herniation of the abdominal viscera, but it is not a hernia per se. DRA is common in the female population during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. There is a scant knowledge on the prevalence, risk factors, prevention or management of the abovementioned condition. The aim of this paper is to present the methods of DRA treatment based on the results of recent studies.

Diastasis of rectus abdominis muscles: patterns of anatomical variation as demonstrated by ultrasound

“…The novelty of the current study is that we provided an in vivo confirma tion of this knowledge, providing statistical data on the prevalence of the different anatomical patterns. During pregnancy, the geometry of abdominal muscles chang es, still maintaining their function [2]. After the delivery there is a physiological reduction of the recti muscles' thickness and an increase in the normal distance between the two muscles.…”

“…Diastasis of abdominal wall recti muscles, i.e. the increase in width of the linea alba with a separation between the paired recti muscles above the normal distance, represents a very common occurrence, at least in the minor degrees of widening [1,2]. Though diastasis can be found in both sexes and at various ages of life, it typically represents a postpartum event [3].…”

“…However, a number of intrapregnancy postpartum impairments have been somehow linked to this abnormality, including back pain, abdominal pain, and incontinence [57]. Risk factors for developing postpartum diastasis are believed to include patient age above 35 years, foetal macrosomia, twin pregnancy, and history of previous pregnancies [2,6,7]. Caesarean section seems not to be a risk factor, compared to spontaneous delivery, although according to some studies the risk of developing diastasis is higher after a Caesarean section [2].…”

“…Risk factors for developing postpartum diastasis are believed to include patient age above 35 years, foetal macrosomia, twin pregnancy, and history of previous pregnancies [2,6,7]. Caesarean section seems not to be a risk factor, compared to spontaneous delivery, although according to some studies the risk of developing diastasis is higher after a Caesarean section [2]. Conversely, the antepartum activity level may have a protective effect on recti muscle diastasis, and exercise may improve postpartum symp toms of diastasis [1].…”

Ab1388-Hpr treatment Adherence Among Patients With Inflammatory Arthritides Treated With Bdmards: An Observational Study Using I-Cqr5 Questionnaire and the Administrative Claims Database

“…After the subject contracts RA in hook lying position when her arms were in extended position, the size of the diastasis was measured by the number of finger. 3 The strength of abdominal muscles was assessed by the manual muscle test in supine hook lying position. The correlation between the amount of DRA and the degree of abdominal muscle strength was analyzed by the Spearmans correlation.…”