Original kinesio tape application for temporary diastasis recti reduction: a single case study

Abstract

Background/Aims The person in this case study was a man with prostatic cancer and diastasis rectus abdominis. Perineal rehabilitation was needed to prevent urinary incontinence, before and after a radical prostatectomy. This study reports on an original application of kinesio tape to reduce the diastasis rectus abdominis so that he could carry out the rehabilitation programme. Methods Three green-coloured Y-type tapes (width 5 cm and length 15 cm) were positioned to form an X, orthogonally at the linea alba, separating the tape half in width and two-thirds of a grid in length into 2 ends, under 75% pulling force (above and below the navel), and two green-coloured I-type tapes (width 5 cm and length 30 cm) positioned in parallel at the rectus abdominis, from the external face of the 5th, 6th and 7th costal cartilage and by the xiphoid process to the upper part of the pubis tubercle and pubic symphysis under 50% pulling force. Kinesio tapes were applied daily before every session of the perineum rehabilitation. Findings A significant reduction of the diastasis was observed by ultrasound, after the kinesio tape was applied. Conclusions This case demonstrates that it was possible to perform a pre- and post-operative perineal rehabilitation programme after the application of kinesio tape, which efficiently reduced the diastasis rectus while performing exercises, with the aim to prevent urinary incontinence.