Research Report: Prevalence and risk factors of diastasis recti abdominis from late pregnancy to 6 months postpartum, and relationship with lumbo-pelvic pain

This research paper examines the prevalence of diastasis recti abdominis (DRA), a condition characterized by the separation of the abdominal muscles, in first-time pregnant women from late pregnancy until six months postpartum.

The authors sought to identify potential risk factors associated with DRA and determine if DRA was linked to increased lumbo-pelvic pain. Using a longitudinal observational study with ultrasound assessment, they tracked the prevalence of DRA across four measurement points and analyzed various factors, including age, BMI, weight gain, and exercise levels.

While they found a significant decrease in DRA prevalence from late pregnancy to six months postpartum, the study did not reveal any specific risk factors for DRA persistence or a connection between DRA and lumbo-pelvic pain.

The authors acknowledge the limitations of their study, including sample size and the focus on primiparous women, and suggest areas for further investigation, such as examining different anatomical structures and extending the follow-up period.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2014.09.002

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