Association of Diastasis Recti with Abdominal Muscle Strength, Endurance, Postural Control, and Pelvic Girdle Pain in Postpartum Women: Diastasis Recti with Abdominal Muscle Strength, and Pelvic Girdle Pain in Postpartum Women

Erum Ghaffar; Somaisha Ishfaq; Muhammad Umar; Fatima Mazhar; Rimsha Tariq; Maria Samad; Uzma Batool; Uzma Irshad

doi:10.54393/pbmj.v9i4.1355

Authors

Erum Ghaffar Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Hajvery University, Lahore, Pakistan
Somaisha Ishfaq Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Hajvery University, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Umar Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Hajvery University, Lahore, Pakistan
Fatima Mazhar Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Hajvery University, Lahore, Pakistan
Rimsha Tariq Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Hajvery University, Lahore, Pakistan
Maria Samad Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Hajvery University, Lahore, Pakistan
Uzma Batool Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Hajvery University, Lahore, Pakistan
Uzma Irshad Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Hajvery University, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v9i4.1355

Keywords:

Diastasis Recti, Inter-Recti Distance, Muscular Endurance, Postural Control, Pelvic Girdle Pain, Postpartum

Abstract

DRA or diastasis recti abdominis is a postpartum complication where the rectus abdominis muscles are separated, leading to impaired abdominal muscle function, reduced core stability, and functional limitations. However, its relationship with muscle strength, endurance, postural control, and pelvic girdle pain remains unclear. Objectives: To determine whether the severity of inter‑recti distance (IRD) within women already diagnosed with DRA is associated with abdominal muscle strength, endurance, postural control, and pelvic girdle pain in postpartum women. Methods: A total of 60 postpartum women with DRA were included. IRD was assessed using the fingerbreadth method. Abdominal muscle strength was measured through manual muscle testing (MMT), endurance by curl-up test, postural control using the Balance Error Scoring Scale (BESS), and pelvic girdle pain through the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ). Spearman correlation was applied to assess associations, and linear regression was used to identify predictors of IRD. Results: IRD showed a strong negative correlation with abdominal muscle strength (ρ = -0.938, p<0.001) and endurance (ρ = -0.970, p<0.001), and a moderate positive correlation with BESS score (ρ = 0.436, p=0.001). The relationship with PGQ was weak and not significant (ρ = 0.234, p=0.072). Mode of delivery was the only significant predictor of IRD (p<0.001). Conclusions: Increased IRD is associated with reduced abdominal strength, endurance, and impaired postural control, but not significantly with pelvic girdle pain. Mode of delivery is the only significant predictor of IRD.

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