The Impact Of Parity And Age In Exercise Mediated Resolution Of Diastasis Recti Abdominis Among Postpartum Women: A Survey Of Women In Abakaliki, Eastern Nigeria
Sylvester Emeka Igwe PT Ph.D
Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Coal City University, Enugu, Nigeria
Goddy Chuba Okoye MBBS Ph.D
Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria
Sylvester Caesar Chukwu PT M Sc
Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria
Keywords: Age, Diastasis recti abdominis, Multiparous, Postpartum
Abstract
Weakness of the abdominal segment has been of great concern to women during the child-bearing year. Separation of the bellies of the recti muscles of the abdomen at the linea alba gives rise to a condition known as diastasis recti abdominis (DRA). The condition is common among postpartum women wherein it creates weakness and impaired functions of the muscles of the abdomen. This study was undertaken to assess whether or not number of pregnancies and maternal age influence DRA resolution. In a cross-sectional survey, thirty multiparous women who had two to five safe deliveries, with age range 29 – 44 years and mean age of 36.7 ± 2.76 years, participated in the study and were randomly assigned into two groups, A (isometric, N = 23) and B (control, N = 7). The 23 participants who undertook four weeks routine isometric abdominal exercises served as their own control while 8 of them compared with the control group. Using analysis of variance, results revealed a statistically significant DRA resolution difference between multiparity of two and four, as well as two and five, at varying degrees (p < 0.05).Younger subjects also fared significantly better (p< 0.05) in DRA reduction than older counterparts. Findings from this study showed that number of births and maternal age are both inversely related to inter-recti distance closure. This knowledge base is of critical importance to caregivers as it may potentiate reliable clinical guide and decision, when planning therapeutic intervention for women with DRA.