SynthesisHernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery2026
Non operative management of postpartum Diastasis Recti: a systematic review and metanalysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Rectus diastasis is not a single entity: phenotype-specific controversies in surgical management.Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeRectus Abdominis Diastasis (RAD) is a prevalent postpartum condition, yet consensus regarding the efficacy of conservative management remains limited. This meta-analysis evaluates the effectiveness of structured exercise programs in reducing Inter-Recti Distance (IRD) and improving functional outcomes in postpartum women compared to no-treatment or standard care.
methodsA systematic search was conducted for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) published before August 2025. The primary outcome was IRD reduction; the secondary outcome was physical disability assessed via the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Methodological quality and certainty of evidence were evaluated using Revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias (RoB 2) and GRADE criteria.
resultsNine RCTs (450 participants) were included for IRD analysis, demonstrating a significant reduction in the exercise group (MD: -8.05 mm; 95% CI: -10.43, -5.68; p < 0.05). Subgroup analyses showed that interventions initiated < 3 months postpartum achieved greater reduction (MD: -10.2 mm; 95% CI: -14.94, -5.46) than delayed starts. Crucially, while no significant difference was found between specific types of training (p = 0.32), a consistent advantage was observed for structured exercise over no intervention or standard care. Regarding functional outcomes, meta-analysis of 3 comparisons from 2 RCTs (n = 115) using the ODI score showed no significant difference between groups (MD: 0.82 higher score; 95% CI: -2.75, 4.38; p = 0.75; I20%).
conclusionsStructured exercise programs significantly reduce IRD in women with RAD. However, this anatomical improvement does not translate into superior functional recovery, as measured by the ODI score, within the observed periods. Further standardized research is warranted to establish optimal clinical protocols and the need for RAD-specific functional scales in future research.
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