The Effect of Kinesio Taping on Reducing Diastasis Recti Abdominis Size in Postpartum Women

NCT06975397 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: No. 34/2018
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 161
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

A three-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted with 90 women aged 23-42 years, 6-8 weeks postpartum. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: no kinesiotaping (control), placebo kinesiotaping (no tension), and kinesiotaping with 50% tension. All participants followed the same exercise program. The primary outcome measure was the Diastasis Recti Index (DRI), assessed via ultrasound at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.

Conditions

Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA)

Keywords

Diastasis recti abdominis; Kinesio Taping; Postpartum; Ultrasonography; Exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Diastasis Recti Index (DRI)

  outcome: Diastasis Recti Index (DRI) was computed in order to normalize the ultrasound examination results. The DRA width was divided by waist circumference and multiplied by 100% to determine the changes in diastasis width at the navel line (DRIn), above the navel (DRIan), and under the navel (DRIun): DRI \[%\]=DRAw\[cm\]/(waist circumference \[cm\] )\*100% where * DRAw is the diastasis recti abdominis width at a given measurement line: at the navel, above the navel, and under the navel (respectively) * waist circumference was measured at the navel line in a given session.

  The effectiveness of Kinesio taping was assessed based on intergroup differences in the initial measurement values (DRI1) taken before the start of the project, the second measurement after 4 weeks (DRI2), and the third measurement after 8 weeks (DRI3).

Study Arms (3)

Group 1 - no taping - control group

SHAM COMPARATOR

The eligibility criteria for the study were: * aged between 25 and 45 years * first singleton pregnancy * natural childbirth * no medical contraindications for exercising and taping. The exclusion criteria were: * childbirth through cesarean section * more than eight weeks from natural childbirth * body mass index (BMI) over 35 kg/m2

Other: EXERCISE TRAINING WITH OR WITHOUT MEDICATION

Group 2 - taping without tension - placebo group

SHAM COMPARATOR

The eligibility criteria for the study were: * aged between 25 and 45 years * first singleton pregnancy * natural childbirth * no medical contraindications for exercising and taping. The exclusion criteria were: * childbirth through cesarean section * more than eight weeks from natural childbirth * body mass index (BMI) over 35 kg/m2

Other: EXERCISE TRAINING WITH OR WITHOUT MEDICATION; Other: kinesio taping

Group 3 - taping at 50 % tension - tape group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The eligibility criteria for the study were: * aged between 25 and 45 years * first singleton pregnancy * natural childbirth * no medical contraindications for exercising and taping. The exclusion criteria were: * childbirth through cesarean section * more than eight weeks from natural childbirth * body mass index (BMI) over 35 kg/m2

Other: EXERCISE TRAINING WITH OR WITHOUT MEDICATION; Other: kinesio taping

Interventions

EXERCISE TRAINING WITH OR WITHOUT MEDICATION OTHER

This training and research project was conducted over eight weeks and started 6 - 8 weeks after natural childbirth. All study participants were included in the exercise program designed for postpartum females. Exercises included four sets that changed every two weeks and were held individually with a physiotherapist three times a week, every two to three days, for 45 minutes each unit. All participants performed breathing exercises, body posture correction, abdominal muscle strengthening exercises (transverse, oblique, and rectus abdominis muscles), and engaged other muscles to improve overall physical fitness.

Group 1 - no taping - control group; Group 2 - taping without tension - placebo group; Group 3 - taping at 50 % tension - tape group

kinesio taping OTHER

The Kinesiology Tape used in this study has a European quality certificate (CE). Before the exercise program, on the day of the first ultrasound, participants had tapes placed on their abdomens. The tape length for each participant was 20 cm to ensure the ends were located on the lateral edges of the rectus abdominis muscles. Both ends of the tape were simultaneously attached to the abdomen, with two attached from the navel line upwards and one below it Each participant in the tape group was asked to breathe in using the abdominal muscles, and after a maximal stretch of the abdominal integuments, three tapes were attached at 50% tension or without tension. The taping procedure was repeated once per week, with the tapes attached for six days and removed at the end of the 6th day. The placebo and tape groups had a break on the 7th day

Group 2 - taping without tension - placebo group; Group 3 - taping at 50 % tension - tape group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 45 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: The eligibility criteria for the study were: * aged between 25 and 45 years * first singleton pregnancy * natural childbirth * no medical contraindications for exercising and taping. The exclusion criteria were: * childbirth through cesarean section * more than eight weeks from natural childbirth * body mass index (BMI) over 35 kg/m2
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• \- aged between 25 and 45 years
• first singleton pregnancy
• natural childbirth
• no medical contraindications for exercising and taping.

You may not qualify if:

• \- childbirth through cesarean section
• more than eight weeks from natural childbirth
• body mass index (BMI) over 35 kg/m2

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Proskura Patrycja: lead

Study Sites (1)

Rehafit

Wroclaw, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, 53-661, Poland

Location

Related Publications (27)

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Related Links

• WHO RECOMMENDATIONS

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Interventions

Exercise; Dosage Forms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Technology, Pharmaceutical; Investigative Techniques

Study Officials

• Joanna Kmieć-Nowakowska, PhD

  Joanna Kmieć-Nowakowska Circa Feminae - terapia dla kobiet Ul. Abramowskiego 41 Wrocław nip 8981976347

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: None of the participants were aware of group allocations or the interventions used in each group according to CONSORT's diagram. Each subject was given the same exercises (instructor-led) and tested individually to maintain study blinding.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: dr

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2025
• First Posted: May 16, 2025
• Study Start: June 24, 2020
• Primary Completion: November 21, 2021
• Study Completion: November 21, 2021
• Last Updated: May 16, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PL (1)