The Association Between Pelvic Floor Muscle Function, Diastasis Recti and Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain - a Matched Case Control Study.
Condition: Pelvic Girdle Pain; Diastasis Recti and Weakness of the Linea Alba; Pelvic Floor Disorders
MeSH terms: Diastasis, Muscle; Pelvic Floor Disorders; Pelvic Girdle Pain
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Background: Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP) can appear during pregnancy, directly
      after labour or can be delayed to 3 weeks postpartum. Pain is experienced between the
      posterior iliac crest and the gluteal fold, particularly in the vicinity of the sacroiliac
      joint (SIJ). The pain may radiate in the posterior thigh and can also occur in conjunction
      with/or separately in the symphysis. The endurance capacity for standing, walking, and
      sitting is diminished. The diagnosis of PGP can be reached after exclusion of lumbar causes.
      The pain or functional disturbances in relation to PGP must be reproducible by specific
      clinical tests. Lack of accurate and early diagnosis of the PGP postpartum may contribute to
      development of chronic condition, lowering quality of life years after delivery. There is
      uncertainty regarding the association between the function of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM),
      diastasis recti and postpartum pelvic girdle pain (PGP). Although widely researched abroad,
      there is a paucity in research about biopsychosocial profile of women with postpartum PGP in
      Poland.

      Objectives: The aim of this one-to-one matched case-control study it to examine whether there
      is any difference in PFM function and diastasis recti between women with and without
      clinically diagnosed PGP. Additionally, differences in biopsychosocial profile (depression,
      anxiety, stress, catastrophizing and kinesiophobia) will be assessed.

      Materials and methods: Because of low incidence of researched condition, a case control study
      will be the study design of choice. Women 6-24 weeks after delivery with postpartum PGP will
      be matched with those with no PGP. Subjects' assessment will consist of palpation examination
      of diastasis recti (inter-recti distance) and pelvic floor muscles. Perineometry of the
      pelvic floor will also be conducted. Additionally, several questionnaires for the assessment
      of mental processing will be used: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21, Pain Catastrophizing
      Scale and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. Participants will be matched according to age, parity
      and time postpartum.

      Expected results: To our knowledge, postpartum pelvic girdle pain has not been extensively
      studied in Poland so far. The study will bring information about the possible associations
      with postpartum PGP. We hypothesize that the study will confirm our clinical observations
      about pelvic floor dysfunction and maladaptive mental processing in women with postpartum
      PGP.
    


Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Retrospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Women, 6-24 weeks after delivery