Diaphragmatic Breathing With and Without Abdominal Muscles Strength Training Program

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The postpartum period is excessively weak and have hypotonic abdominal muscles, making the ligaments and connective tissue softer and more elastic. The importance of exercise in the postpartum period is very important in this regard. This study will be a Randomized control trial used to compare the effects of diaphragmatic breathing with and without abdominal muscles strength training program on pelvic floor strength and endurance and quality of life in postnatal women. Subjects meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be divided into two groups using lottery method. Assessment will be done using PERFECT scheme questionnaire and SF- 36 quality of life questionnaire. Subjects in one group will receive diaphragmatic breathing exercises along with pelvic muscle strength training and subjects in other group will receive only diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Each subject will receive 12 treatment sessions for 4 weeks. Results will be analyzed for any change by using SPSS25.

Detailed Description
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The postpartum period is excessively weak and have hypotonic abdominal muscles, making the ligaments and connective tissue softer and more elastic. These changes result in anatomical, physiological and biomechanical alterations. Therefore, these factors are responsible for the lack of necessary support for the waist region, pain, disability and negative impact on health-related quality of life. The importance of exercise in the postpartum period is very important in this regard. Postnatal exercises have several benefits such as improving pelvic floor strength and endurance and quality of life and increasing the general well-being, preventing the diastasis of the rectus Abdominis muscle (RAM) increasing cardiovascular endurance and bone mineral density. This study will be a Randomized control trial used to compare the effects of diaphragmatic breathing with and without abdominal muscles strength training program on pelvic floor strength and endurance and quality of life in postnatal women. Subjects meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be divided into two groups using lottery method. Assessment will be done using PERFECT scheme questionnaire and SF- 36 quality of life questionnaire. Subjects in one group will receive diaphragmatic breathing exercises along with pelvic muscle strength training and subjects in other group will receive only diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Each subject will receive 12 treatment sessions for 4 weeks. Results will be analyzed for any change by using SPSS25.

Official Title
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Effects of Diaphragmatic Breathing With and Without Abdominal Muscles Strength Training Program on Pelvic Floor Strength, Endurance and Quality of Life in Postnatal Women

Conditions
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Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness, Endurance, Quality of Life

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Diaphragmatic breathing exercises
* Other: Abdominal muscle strengthening exercises


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 20 to 35 years. Women between 2 to 6 months post-natal. Women with stable somatic state. Women with no cognitive dysfunction. Exclusion Criteria: Women with respiratory problems. Women with severe back pain. Patients with any pelvic pathology Patient with any previous neurological disorders

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Diaphragmatic breathing in combination with abdominal muscle strengthening exercises<br>Exprimental Group ( Group A) will receive diaphragmatic breathing in combination with abdominal muscle strengthening exercises .12 treatment sessions for 4 weeks period, which consisted of 03 treatment sessions per week. | Other: Diaphragmatic breathing exercises<br>* 12 treatment sessions for 4 weeks period, which consisted of 03 treatment sessions per week.<br>Other: Abdominal muscle strengthening exercises<br>* 12 treatment sessions for 4 weeks period, which consisted of 03 treatment sessions per week.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Diaphragmatic breathing Exercises only without abdominal muscle strengthening exercises<br>Active comparator (Group B) will receive diaphragmatic breathing only. 12 treatment sessions for 4 weeks period, which consisted of 03 treatment sessions per week. | Other: Diaphragmatic breathing exercises<br>* 12 treatment sessions for 4 weeks period, which consisted of 03 treatment sessions per week.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERFECT scheme questionnaire | The term PERFECT stands for power (or pressure), endurance (E), repetitions (R), rapid contractions (F), and lastly, every contraction timed (ECT). The Pelvic Floor Muscle Assessment Scheme was created to streamline and explain the process. This program may provide suggestions for developing patient-specific exercise plans that correspond to the principles of muscle training. | 4 Weeks | 
| SF-36 quality of life questionnaire | Physical functioning (PF), role physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role emotional (RE), and mental health (MH) are the eight scales that the SF-36 measures. Different amounts from each scale do go into the scoring of the PCS and MCS measures. | 4 Weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Abdominal Muscles, Breathing Exercises, Exercise, Pelvic Floor, Quality Of Life