TY - JOUR
T1 - Diastasis recti abdominis after childbirth
T2 - Is it a predictor of stress urinary incontinence?
AU - Braga, Andrea
AU - Caccia, Giorgio
AU - Nasi, Imir
AU - Ruggeri, Giovanni
AU - Di Dedda, Maria Carmela
AU - Lamberti, Gianfranco
AU - Salvatore, Stefano
AU - Papadia, Andrea
AU - Serati, Maurizio
N1 - Funding Information:
None.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS
Copyright:
Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Introduction: Pregnancy and childbirth are considered risk factors for the development of diastasis recti abdominis (DRA). This anatomical change could be on the basis of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the value of DRA and SUI, in order to understand, if a specific abdominal rehabilitation might be indicated. Methods: All women with clinically and urodynamically proven SUI (group 1) 6 months after first childbirth, have been enrolled and compared with women without any symptoms of SUI (group 2). Exclusion criteria were age > 45 years, pelvic organ prolapse > II stage, previous abdominal surgery including cesarean section, BMI (Body Mass Index) > 30, previous weight loss > 10 kg, presence of abdominal hernia, and pathological connective tissue laxity. Physical examination and ultrasound measurement of DRA were performed. DRA in women with SUI were compared with DRA in continent women. Results: During the study period, 35 (48 %) incontinent women were included in group 1 and 38 (52 %) continent women were included in group 2. The two groups did not differ in any characteristics. No statistically significant differences in the mean value of DRA, 1.76 cm (±0.81 DS) in group 1 versus 1.69 (±0.79 DS) in group 2 (p value = 0.91), were found. Conclusions: DRA is not a risk factor for SUI. Therefore, an intervention on the abdominal muscles during pelvic floor rehabilitation for SUI does not seem to be justified.
AB - Introduction: Pregnancy and childbirth are considered risk factors for the development of diastasis recti abdominis (DRA). This anatomical change could be on the basis of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the value of DRA and SUI, in order to understand, if a specific abdominal rehabilitation might be indicated. Methods: All women with clinically and urodynamically proven SUI (group 1) 6 months after first childbirth, have been enrolled and compared with women without any symptoms of SUI (group 2). Exclusion criteria were age > 45 years, pelvic organ prolapse > II stage, previous abdominal surgery including cesarean section, BMI (Body Mass Index) > 30, previous weight loss > 10 kg, presence of abdominal hernia, and pathological connective tissue laxity. Physical examination and ultrasound measurement of DRA were performed. DRA in women with SUI were compared with DRA in continent women. Results: During the study period, 35 (48 %) incontinent women were included in group 1 and 38 (52 %) continent women were included in group 2. The two groups did not differ in any characteristics. No statistically significant differences in the mean value of DRA, 1.76 cm (±0.81 DS) in group 1 versus 1.69 (±0.79 DS) in group 2 (p value = 0.91), were found. Conclusions: DRA is not a risk factor for SUI. Therefore, an intervention on the abdominal muscles during pelvic floor rehabilitation for SUI does not seem to be justified.
KW - Childbirth
KW - Diastasis recti abdominis
KW - Pelvic floor dysfunctions
KW - Pelvic floor muscle training
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Stress urinary incontinence
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jogoh.2019.101657
DO - 10.1016/j.jogoh.2019.101657
M3 - Article
C2 - 31783196
AN - SCOPUS:85076215917
JO - Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction
JF - Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction
SN - 0368-2315
M1 - 101657
ER -