Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: October | Volume: 9 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 90-99
Effects of an Exercise Program on Diastasis Recti in Women
Cañamero-de León S1, Da Cuña-Carrera I2, de la Hoz González C A3, Soto-González M2
1Maternatal Hospital (Spain)
2 Faculty of physiotherapy. University of Vigo (Spain)
3Complejo asistencial de Ávila HNSS
Corresponding Author: Da Cuña-Carrera I
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The programs aimed at reducing diastasis recti reported in the scientific literature, are scarce. However, the diastasis recti is maintained in many women after their postpartum period. The objective of this work is to know the impact of an exercise program on reducing Diastasis Recti.
Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental analytical study was carried out. The research study included all women who participated in the exercise program (9 weeks) between 2014 and 2016, that is, a total of 100 women. They were assessed in the beginning, at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after starting the program. The program consists of hypopressive abdominal exercises, transverse muscle activation exercises, and exercises of oblique and rectus abdominis activation.
Results: There was a reduction of the upper, medial and lower diastasis and in the abdominal circumference. The difference between the initial measurement and the measurement after 3 weeks is statistically significant; the same applies to the measurements of weeks 3 and 6 and the trend is maintained, finding statistically significant differences between the measurements of weeks 6 and 9.
Conclusions: The exercise program leads to a reduction in the diastasis recti. The results were obtained starting from the third week, and they gradually improved until the ninth week.
Key words: Exercise Therapy; Women; Diastasis, Muscle; Rectus Abdominis.