Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29351646›Full record

Trial reportPhysical therapy2018

Effect of a Postpartum Training Program on the Prevalence of Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Postpartum Primiparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Sandra L Gluppe, Gunvor Hilde, Merete K Tennfjord, Marie E Engh, Kari Bø

3 registry-linked trialsOpen access · bronzeAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Physical therapy, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 48 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
48citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
7.7field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04122924 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2020, after this paper: background citation

Effect of Abdominal Muscle Training on Inter-recti Distance and Prevalence of Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Postpartum Primi- and Multiparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorNorwegian School of Sport SciencesRan2020 to 2022Enrolled70ConditionsDiastasis Recti Abdominis, Diastasis RectiArmsAbdominal muscle training
NCT06599541 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Efficacy of Hypopressive Exercises Versus Pilates in Women with Abdominal Diastasis in the Postpartum Period: a Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of AlcalaRan2024 to 2026Enrolled48ConditionsAbdominal DiastasisArmsHypopressive Exercise, Pilates Exercise
NCT07253844 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Transverse Abdominis Activation and Rectus Abdominis Strengthening on Inter-rectus Distance and Core Stability Among Patients With Diastasis Rectus Abdominis

TypeinterventionalSponsorLahore University of Biological and Applied SciencesRan2025 to 2026Enrolled33ConditionsDiastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA)ArmsTransverse Abdominis activation exercises, Rectus Abdominis Strengthening exercises, combined protocol of both transverse abdominis activation and rectus abdominis strengthening.
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

48 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 120 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Sandra L GluppeDepartment of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, PO Box 4014, Ullevål Stadion 0806, Oslo, Norway. She was a Master candidate at the time this manuscript was accepted.
Gunvor HildeDepartment of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.
Merete K TennfjordDepartment of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences.
Marie E EnghDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Akershus University Hospital, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Kari BøDepartment of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Akershus University Hospital.
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences · NOAkershus University Hospital · NO

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Diastasis recti abdominis affects a significant number of women during the prenatal and postnatal period. Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effect of a postpartum training program on the prevalence of diastasis recti abdominis. Design: The design was a secondary analysis of an assessor-masked randomized controlled trial. Methods: One hundred seventy-five primiparous women (mean age = 29.8 ± 4.1 years) were randomized to an exercise or control group. The interrectus distance was palpated using finger widths, with a cutoff point for diastasis as ≥2 finger widths. Measures were taken 4.5 cm above, at, and 4.5 cm below the umbilicus. The 4-month intervention started 6 weeks postpartum and consisted of a weekly, supervised exercise class focusing on strength training of the pelvic floor muscles. In addition, the women were asked to perform daily pelvic floor muscle training at home. The control group received no intervention. Analyses were based on intention to treat. The Mantel-Haenszel test (relative risk [RR] ratio) and the chi-square test for independence were used to evaluate between-group differences on categorical data. Results: At 6 weeks postpartum, 55.2% and 54.5% of the participants were diagnosed with diastasis in the intervention and control groups, respectively. No significant differences between groups in prevalence were found at baseline (RR: 1.01 [0.77-1.32]), at 6 months postpartum (RR: 0.99 [0.71-1.38]), or at 12 months postpartum (RR: 1.04 [0.73-1.49]). Limitations: The interrecti distance was palpated using finger widths, and the sample included women with and without diastasis. Conclusions: A weekly, postpartum, supervised exercise program, including strength training of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles, in addition to daily home training of the pelvic floor muscles, did not reduce the prevalence of diastasis.

Indexed as

AdultDiastasis, MuscleExercise TherapyFemaleHumansParityPelvic FloorPostnatal CarePregnancyPregnancy ComplicationsRectus AbdominisRisk FactorsTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID29351646
PMCPMC5963302
OpenAlexW2790510208

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.