Comparative Effects of Hypopressive and Split Tummy Exercises in Postpartum Diastasis Recti
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: hypopressive exercise, split tummy exercises.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Diastasis Recti. Basic parameters: 24 years — 40 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Pakistan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Comparative Effects of Hypopressive and Split Tummy Exercises on Lifestyle, Inter Recti Distance, Strength and Function of Pelvic Floor Muscles in Postpartum Diastasis Recti
Overview
To compare the effects of hypopressive exercises and split tummy (transverse abdominal activation-based) exercises on inter-recti distance (IRD), pelvic floor muscle strength and function, and overall quality of life improvements in postpartum women with diastasis recti. This study will be randomized clinical trial and will be conducted in Hameed Latif Hospital Lahore and Civil Hospital Sukkur. The total duration of treatment will be 8 week. Non-probability convenience sampling technique will be used and 50 participants will be recruited in study after randomization. The subjects will be divided into two groups. Group A will receive hypopressive exercise with baseline treatment abdominal binding. Group B will receive baseline treatment with split tummy exercises.
Detailed description
Postpartum diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is a common condition affecting women after childbirth, characterized by the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba. This condition can lead to core instability, pelvic floor dysfunction, back pain, and a negative impact on daily function and quality of life. Rehabilitation through exercise is considered a primary non-surgical treatment. However, the most effective approach to improving both physical parameters and overall lifestyle remains under investigation.
To compare the effects of hypopressive exercises and split tummy (transverse abdominal activation-based) exercises on inter-recti distance (IRD), pelvic floor muscle strength and function, and overall quality of life improvements in postpartum women with diastasis recti. This study will be randomized clinical trial and will be conducted in Hameed Latif Hospital Lahore and Civil Hospital Sukkur. The total duration of treatment will be 8 week. Non-probability convenience sampling technique will be used and 50 participants will be recruited in study after randomization. The subjects will be divided into two groups. Group A will receive hypopressive exercise with baseline treatment abdominal binding. Group B will receive baseline treatment with split tummy exercises. The tools that will be used are digital vernier scale use for inter recti distance, oswestry disability index (ODI), Oxford Grading scale system use for strength and function of pelvic floor muscles and quality of life questionnaire. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 21. With the significant P value \< 0.05.
Interventions
- Other hypopressive exercise
For participants in Group A, series of postural and breathing-based sequences will be given. Base-line is abdominal binding I will performed hypopressive exercises in various positions (lying, sitting, leaning forward, standing and quadruped) to improve breath control, abdominal contraction and pelvic floor engagement. Each session began with focused breathing, full increasing based on tolerance. Exercises were repeated in different postures to assess endurance in each, as individual holding eac - Other split tummy exercises
Base-line abdominal binding I will perform isometric exercises (1) Modified plank hold (2) Pelvic tilts (3) Transverse abdominis engagement. For modified plank hold in this position participants with their knees on the ground instead of toes. Engage core muscles and hold for 30 to 60 seconds. For pelvic tilts participants lie on back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Tilt the pelvic upwards and then back down again, repeating the motion in a slow and controlled manner. Hold for 30 to 6
Primary outcome measures
- Digital Vernier Calliper [Time frame: 8 weeks]
- Quality of life questionnaire [Time frame: 8 weeks]
- Pelvic floor strength and function [Time frame: 8 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age: 24 to 40years
- Weight: 50 to 70kg
- Height: 4.5 to 6ft
- BMI: Both underweight and overweight/ obese individuals can experience DRA.
- Parity: Multiparous
- Mode of delivery: vaginal delivery in split tummy.
- Subjects who gave vaginal birth with or without episiotomy in multiparous women in hypopressive.
Exclusion criteria
- Undergoing a severe illness
- Uncompleted inter-rectus distance (IRD) records
- Have a history of pelvic floor dysfunction
- Primiparous, polyhydramnios, uterine fibroids during pregnancy, previous abdominal, surgery caesarean delivery
- Subjects with untreated high blood pressure, cardiovascular illness, hernia, pregnant and underwent any recent surgeries.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- Civil Hospital Sukkur — Sukkur
Publications
- Abdullah, Rehman KA, Ahmad B, Arshad MK, Saeed H, Keen MA, Anwar A, Saleem NUA, Salma Shabbar Banatwala UE, Bilal Z, Shahzad M, Shakoor P, Niazi MA. Comparative Efficacy of Abdominal Exercises and Abdominal Binding on Diastasis Recti Abdominis Reduction in Postpartum Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Physiother Res Int. 2025 Apr;30(2):e70038. doi: 10.100 PMID 40018828
- Rodriguez-Romero B, Senin-Camargo F, Sande-Fuentes J, Martinez-Bustelo S. Exercises to treat diastasis rectus abdominis and improve abdominal function: Two case reports. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2025 Sep;38(5):1180-1188. doi: 10.1177/10538127251325839. Epub 2025 Apr 10. PMID 40208059
- Theodorsen NM, Moe-Nilssen R, Bo K, Haukenes I. Effect of exercise on the inter-rectus distance in pregnant women with diastasis recti abdominis: an experimental longitudinal study. Physiotherapy. 2023 Dec;121:13-20. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2023.08.001. Epub 2023 Aug 23. PMID 37812848
- Sekar R, Ramalingam V, Nirmala JG, Muniandy Y. Effectiveness of Abdominal Hypopressive Technique on Diastasis Recti among Postpartum Women. Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy. 2024;18.
- Shohaimi S, Husain NRN, Zaki FM, Atan IK. Split Tummy Exercise Program for Reducing Diastasis Recti in Postpartum Primigravidae: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Korean J Fam Med. 2023 Mar;44(2):102-108. doi: 10.4082/kjfm.22.0035. Epub 2023 Mar 20. PMID 36966740
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07628400 · REC/RCR & AHS/25/0512