Telerehabilitation for Diastasis Recti

NCT07017309 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: DRATelerehab-Pilot-16331
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 13
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This is a pilot study exploring how a 12-week telerehabilitation program can help new mothers manage diastasis recti abdominis (DRA)-a common trunk dysfunction which causes abdominal muscle separation after childbirth. Instead of needing to attend in-person sessions, participants are encouraged to join guided exercise sessions online, with real-time supervision from a physiotherapist. The study aims to assess participant satisfaction with the remote program using a standardized questionnaire. It also evaluates potential changes in abdominal muscle separation (diastasis) through ultrasound, improvements in trunk muscle endurance using functional tests, and changes in body image perception using a body image questionnaire.

Conditions

Diastasis Recti; Telerehabilitation; Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA); Diastasis Recti And Weakness Of The Linea Alba

Keywords

Diastasis recti abdominis; postpartum rehabilitation; telerehabilitation; core stabilization; Pelvic Floor Exercises; Women's Health Physiotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Telehealth Usability Questionnaire

  Telehealth Usability Questionnaire is a validated tool including 21 items that assess six domains: usefulness, ease of use and learnability, interface quality, interaction quality, reliability, satisfaction and future use. Items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale, from "1: strongly disagree" to "7: strongly agree", and with higher average scores indicating greater usability. Maximum score can be 7, while minimum score can be 1.

  Assessed at 12 weeks (end of intervention)

• Satisfaction Assessment

  A closed-ended question, asking participants to rate their satisfaction with the telerehabilitation program on a 5-point Likert scale, from 1 : "not at all satisfied" to 5 "very satisfied."Higher values on the scale indicate higher satisfaction.

  Assessed at 12 weeks (end of intervention)

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Inter-recti distance (IRD)

  Measured at baseline, and at 12 weeks (end of intervention)

• Trunk flexion endurance

  Measured at baseline, week 4, week 8, and at 12 weeks

• Front plank endurance

  Measured at baseline, week 4, week 8, and at 12 weeks

• Right side plank endurance

  Measured at baseline, week 4, week 8, and at 12 weeks

• Left side plank endurance

  Measured at baseline, week 4, week 8, and at 12 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Intervention group

Behavioral: Telerehabilitation Protocol for Diastasis Recti

Interventions

Telerehabilitation Protocol for Diastasis Recti BEHAVIORAL

12-week telerehabilitation program combining synchronous (live, supervised by physiotherapists) and asynchronous (video -recorded) therapeutic exercise sessions focused on progressive inner core exercises (i.e. transversus abdominis, pelvic floor muscle retraining), outer core strengthening, and functional retraining.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants from the wider Achaia region in Greece are invited to join the study through informational leaflets and posters placed in key locations such as the University Campus and the University General Hospital of Patras, as well as through social media channels. Additionally, details about the study are shared by local professional associations and healthcare providers-including obstetricians, midwives, and surgeons.

You may qualify if:

• female volunteers aged 18 - 50
• with established DRA (IRD ≥ 2.8 cm) according to Mota et al., (2018) criteria
• at least 6 months postpartum
• able to voluntarily contract the transversus abdominis and pelvic floor muscles - comfortable with digital technology and having access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and internet connection

You may not qualify if:

• recent abdominal surgery (excluding cesarean section)
• having given birth less than 6 months prior to participation
• serious musculoskeletal disorders limiting exercise participation
• neurological conditions limiting exercise participation
• chronic respiratory disease limiting exercise participation
• connective tissue disorders that could affect the structure of the linea alba
• body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m²

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Patras: lead

Study Sites (1)

Laboratory of Clinical Rehabilitation and Research (CPRlab), University of Patras

Pátrai, Greece

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Diastasis Recti And Weakness Of The Linea Alba

Study Officials

• Evdokia Billis, PhD

  University of Patras

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD candidate

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 23, 2025
• First Posted: June 12, 2025
• Study Start: March 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 20, 2025
• Study Completion: May 20, 2025
• Last Updated: June 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GR (1)