Rehabilitation of Postpartum Diastasis Rectus Abdominis : a Patient Guide for the Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia (OVPH)
Herrgård, Kristina (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202501201714
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202501201714
Tiivistelmä
Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) is a widening between the two rectus abdominis muscles and a stretch and thinning to the connective tissue in between the muscles, called linea alba. In pregnancy this is a normal change that occurs from around pregnancy week 14 until delivery. A DRA is common in pregnancy (100%), and approximately one-third of women have a persistent diastasis rectus abdominis following a pregnancy. The recovery is individual.
The objective of this thesis was to find the latest information on how to rehabilitate a postpartum diastasis rectus abdominis. Based on the research, a patient guide was compiled. The guide included information and exercises in English, Swedish, and Finnish languages. The patient guide was made for an external partner, the Physiotherapy Department at Vaasa Central Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia, as they needed an updated patient material on DRA rehabilitation. The guide will be handed out to patients with DRA and may also guide the physiotherapists work in instructing exercises.
The thesis process progressed from a general topic to a specific research question. Theory was compiled, and searches through different databases were conducted. Findings were evaluated and relevant studies included. The work resulted in a patient guide with exercise, based on theory and current evidence on the topic.
Conservative treatment with physiotherapy is considered first-line approach for DRA rehabilitation. There is no consensus on the most effective or optimal exercise, nor does available evidence support some exercise to be considered harmful. Combined exercises focusing on several muscle groups and structures are considered safe. Abdominal muscle training, pelvic floor muscle training, postural training, and breathing techniques incorporated. Individualized exercise is highlighted. However, since the evidence found today is challenging to compare and find consensus from, it is safe to state that further high-quality and standardized research on both short- and long-term rehabilitation effects are needed in the pursuit for the optimal rehabilitation of post-partum diastasis rectus abdominis.
The objective of this thesis was to find the latest information on how to rehabilitate a postpartum diastasis rectus abdominis. Based on the research, a patient guide was compiled. The guide included information and exercises in English, Swedish, and Finnish languages. The patient guide was made for an external partner, the Physiotherapy Department at Vaasa Central Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia, as they needed an updated patient material on DRA rehabilitation. The guide will be handed out to patients with DRA and may also guide the physiotherapists work in instructing exercises.
The thesis process progressed from a general topic to a specific research question. Theory was compiled, and searches through different databases were conducted. Findings were evaluated and relevant studies included. The work resulted in a patient guide with exercise, based on theory and current evidence on the topic.
Conservative treatment with physiotherapy is considered first-line approach for DRA rehabilitation. There is no consensus on the most effective or optimal exercise, nor does available evidence support some exercise to be considered harmful. Combined exercises focusing on several muscle groups and structures are considered safe. Abdominal muscle training, pelvic floor muscle training, postural training, and breathing techniques incorporated. Individualized exercise is highlighted. However, since the evidence found today is challenging to compare and find consensus from, it is safe to state that further high-quality and standardized research on both short- and long-term rehabilitation effects are needed in the pursuit for the optimal rehabilitation of post-partum diastasis rectus abdominis.