Efficiency of Abdominal Corset and Core Stabilization Exercises in the Treatment of Postpartum Diastasis Recti Abdominis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Participants will be randomly divided into three groups as core stabilization group, combination of core stabilization and corset group and only corset group.

Detailed Description
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30 volunteer women who were diagnosed with diastasis recti abdominis by an obstetrician in Çamlıca Medipol Hospital, aged between 18-35 and met the inclusion criteria will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly divided into three groups. Participants in the first group will do core stabilization exercises for the transversus abdominis muscle 3 days a week for 8 weeks with 10 repetitions. In the second group, in addition to the first group, core stabilization exercises will be performed by wearing an abdominal corset. Participants included in the third group will be asked to wear only this corset all day (except for the bathroom) for 8 weeks. Anthropometric measurements, ultrasonographic evaluation, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, abdominal muscle strength and endurance, Oswestry Disability Index will be evaluated as pretest and posttest.

Official Title
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Comparison of the Efficiency of Abdominal Corset and Core Stabilization Exercises in the Treatment of Postpartum Diastasis Recti Abdominis

Conditions
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Diastasis Recti

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Exercise intervention
* Other: Exercise intervention by wearing abdominal corset
* Other: Corset intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Being between the ages of 20-35, Having a normal birth, Being at least 6 weeks postpartum when DRA is diagnosed, Absence of any musculoskeletal or neurological problems, Volunteering to do the exercises Exclusion Criteria: Cesarean delivery, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression questionnaire result being >13, Having a systemic disorder

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: First group<br>Core stabilization exercises | Other: Exercise intervention<br>* Women with diastasis recti abdominis will do core stabilization exercises for the transversus abdominis muscle with 10 repetitions 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The exercises include diaphragmatic breathing exercises, core stabilization exercises for the transversus abdominis muscle, and pelvic floor contractions<br>|
| Experimental: Second group<br>Combination of core stabilization and abdominal corset | Other: Exercise intervention by wearing abdominal corset<br>* In this group, in addition to the first group, core stabilization exercises will be performed by wearing an abdominal corset. Participants will be asked to wear their corsets while performing their exercises.<br>|
| Experimental: Third group<br>Only abdominal corset | Other: Corset intervention<br>* Participants included in this group will be required to wear only this corset all day (except for the bathroom) for 8 weeks.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ultrasanografic measurement | The distance between the rectus muscles will be measured by the obstetrician with ultrasound. | 5 minutes | 
| Visual Analogue Scale for pain assessment | The line has a value of 0 at the beginning and a value of 10 at the end. The patient is asked to indicate the intensity of the pain at rest or during activity. A value of 0 means no pain, a value of 10 means excruciating pain. | 3 minutes | 
| Abdominal muscle strength measurement | The abdominal muscle strength of the participants will be graded from 0 to 5 using manual muscle testing. | 5 minutes | 
| Abdominal muscle undurance measurement | n the measurement of muscle endurance, the participants will be asked to stand as long as they can in their position during the muscle strength measurement. | 5 minutes | 
| Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale | The scale is used to determine the risk of depression in the postpartum period and to measure the change in level and severity. Minimum value is 0 and maximum value is 30. Cut-off score of 13 is used to distinguish depressed from nondepressed women. High scores means worse outcomes. | 5 minutes | 
| Oswestry Disability Index for assesment of pain and quality of life | It is a questionnaire evaluating individuals' participation in activities of daily living due to low back pain. | 5 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight measurement | Weight measurement in kilograms will be recorded with weighing machine. | 2 minutes | 
| Height measurement | Height measurement in meters will be recorded with tape measure | 2 minutes | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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diastasis recti abdominis, core stabilization exercise, physiotherapy