Changes in Abdominal Muscles Performance in Postpartum Women.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To describe and compare abdominal muscles and inter-rectus distance conditions in postpartum period in comparison with nulliparous women. Also to describe the activation changes during different abdominal exercises.

Detailed Description
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Pregnancy and childbirth cause corporal changes in women, altering the structure and function of the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. The distension of the muscular tissue and the possible diastasis recti can alter the performance of the abdominal musculature in the control of intra-abdominal pressure and the lumbo-pelvic stabilization in postpartum term. Abdominal exercise is highly recommended to restore these changes but there is not enough evidence about the effects of exercise modalities.

Official Title
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Changes in Abdominal Muscles Performance and Inter-rectus Distance in Postpartum Women: an Ultrasonography and Electromyographic Study.

Conditions
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Recti Diastasis, Pregnancy Related

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Physical therapy intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Primiparous women Normal not operative delivery One child delivery Exclusion Criteria: Two or more previous gestation Previous abdominal surgery Systemic disease, neurologic or metabolic disease

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Primiparous women<br>Women after normal, not operative, vaginal one-child delivery | Other: Physical therapy intervention<br>* Primiparous women start a physical therapy intervention in week 6 after normal one-child delivery, based on abdominal and pelvic floor exercises, education and behavior advices. Abdominal muscle condition and activation are measured by transabdominal ultrasound and surface electromiography. This group is going to be examined after treatment and 6 and 12 months after treatment.<br>|
| Nulliparous women<br>Women without any child or pregnancy, age-matched | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inter-rectus distance (mm) | Inter-rectus abdominis distance in mm in rest position. | 1 day | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cross-sectional area (mm) | Cross-sectional area of rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique and transversus abdominis in rest position. | 1 day | 
| Neuromuscular activity (mV) | Neuromuscular activity (mV) of rectus abdominis, external oblique and internal oblique + transversus abdominis in rest position. | 1 day | 
| Inter-rectus distance (mm) during an hypopressive exercise | Inter-rectus distance (mm) during an hypopressive exercise performance in supine position. | 1 day | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Hypopressive exercises, Ultrasonography