Effects of Corrective Versus Plank Exercises on Diastasis Recti

NCT07440836 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR&AHS/24/0536
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 56
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will be randomized clinical trial and will be conducted in Services Hospital and poly clinics. The total duration of treatment will be 12 weeks. Non-probability convenience sampling technique will be used and 56 participants will be recruited in study after randomization. The participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group A performs corrective exercises focused on deep core engagement, while Group B performs plank exercises aimed at overall abdominal activation. Each group follows their respective regimen three times per week for 12 weeks. Baseline EMS and pelvic floor exercises are conducted for all participants to ensure core stability before the interventions begin. Outcome measures, including manual muscle testing (MMT) for strength, and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain, are recorded both before and after the 12-week intervention. After data collection data will be analyzed by using SPSS version 25.

Conditions

Diastasis Recti

Keywords

Diastasis recti abdominis; inter-recti distance; corrective exercises; plank exercises; postpartum rehabilitation; pain; abdominal strength

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• NPRS

  The Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is a subjective measure in which individuals rate their pain on an eleven-point numerical scale. The scale is composed of 0 (no pain at all) to 10 (worst imaginable pain. The NPRS is a widely used patient reported outcome scale.27-29 The ordinal 11-point NPRS (0-no pain, 10-most intense pain) is the most commonly used version which has good test-retest reliability (r=.79-.96) in individuals with chronic pain and musculoskeletal pathology.

  12th week

• • MMT

  MMT is the most commonly used method for documenting impairments in muscle strength. Manual muscle testing is used in rehabilitation and recovery to evaluate contractile units, including muscles and tendons, and their ability to generate forces. Reliability of strength MMT grade of lower extremity is 66-0.90. There are six grades of MMT i.e. Grade 5 (Normal), Grade 4 (Good), Grade 3+ (Fair), Grade 2+ (Poor), Grade 1 (Trace) and Grade 0 (Zero)

  12th week

• inter-recti distance

  The subjects were in supine resting position with the knees bent at 90° and feet resting on the plinth, arms alongside the body. After instruction in how to perform an abdominal crunch the subjects were asked to raise the head and shoulders upwards until the shoulder blades cleared the table. One physiotherapist placed the fingers vertically on the subject's Linea Alba in a way that fingers widths could fit the distance between the internal borders of the two rectus abdominis muscles. Using the center of the umbilicus as a reference, measurements were taken in two previously marked locations: one being 2 cm above the umbilicus and the other being 2 cm below the umbilicus.

  12th week

• Oswestry Disability Index

  The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is defined as a validated metric that assesses a patient's perceived level of disability through a 10-question assessment, yielding a numerical score from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate greater disability

  12th week

Study Arms (2)

corrective exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

During weeks 1-4, the program emphasized low-load activation, including transversus abdominis (TrA) drawing-in activation, posterior pelvic tilting, and modified heel slides performed with strict abdominal control. In weeks 5-8, progression was achieved through increased hold times, higher repetitions, slower tempo, and the gradual introduction of light resistance or functional integration cues where tolerated. In weeks 9-12, participants progressed toward functional core integration and advanced control exercises such as dead bug variations,

Other: corrective exercises

PLANK EXERCISES

EXPERIMENTAL

In weeks 1-4, the program began with modified plank positions using knee-and-elbow support and modified side planks, with short hold durations and adequate rest intervals. During weeks 5-8, hold times were progressively increased, and participants were introduced to controlled plank variations such as weight-shifts or arm reach tasks depending on tolerance and maintenance of neutral spine control. In weeks 9-12, progression was aimed toward longer holds and more advanced stabilization tasks, including leg lifts in plank and progression toward full plank positions

Other: Plank Exercise

Interventions

corrective exercises OTHER

restoration of trunk stability, and reduction of IRD through improved tensioning of the linea alba. During weeks 1-4, the program emphasized low-load activation, including transversus abdominis (TrA) drawing-in activation, posterior pelvic tilting, and modified heel slides performed with strict abdominal control. In weeks 5-8, progression was achieved through increased hold times, higher repetitions, slower tempo, and the gradual introduction of light resistance or functional integration cues where tolerated. In weeks 9-12, participants progressed toward functional core integration and advanced control exercises such as dead bug variations,

corrective exercises

Plank Exercise OTHER

In weeks 1-4, the program began with modified plank positions using knee-and-elbow support and modified side planks, with short hold durations and adequate rest intervals. During weeks 5-8, hold times were progressively increased, and participants were introduced to controlled plank variations such as weight-shifts or arm reach tasks depending on tolerance and maintenance of neutral spine control. In weeks 9-12, progression was aimed toward longer holds and more advanced stabilization tasks, including leg lifts in plank and progression toward full plank positions

PLANK EXERCISES

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 40 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: diastasis recti
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• If IRD is greater than 4cm and above
• Postpartum females
• Three months to three years postpartum with presence of diastasis rectus abdominis
• Vaginal delivery
• Multiparous
• Pain greater than 6 on NPRS

You may not qualify if:

• Subjects with any heart condition, respiratory condition
• Any pelvic or abdominal surgery
• Any neurological disease eg preeclampsia, epilepsy
• Trauma to bowel or bladder
• Prior history of physical therapy treatment for pelvic floor issues
• Postpartum depression

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Services Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, 6400, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (6)

• Abdullah, Rehman KA, Ahmad B, Arshad MK, Saeed H, Keen MA, Anwar A, Saleem NUA, Salma Shabbar Banatwala UE, Bilal Z, Shahzad M, Shakoor P, Niazi MA. Comparative Efficacy of Abdominal Exercises and Abdominal Binding on Diastasis Recti Abdominis Reduction in Postpartum Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Physiother Res Int. 2025 Apr;30(2):e70038. doi: 10.1002/pri.70038.

  PMID: 40018828 BACKGROUND

• Benjamin DR, Frawley HC, Shields N, Peiris CL, van de Water ATM, Bruder AM, Taylor NF. Conservative interventions may have little effect on reducing diastasis of the rectus abdominis in postnatal women - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Physiotherapy. 2023 Jun;119:54-71. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2023.02.002. Epub 2023 Mar 5.

  PMID: 36934466 BACKGROUND

• Berg-Poppe P, Hauer M, Jones C, Munger M, Wethor C. Use of Exercise in the Management of Postpartum Diastasis Recti: A Systematic Review. Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. 2022.

  BACKGROUND

• Toprak Celenay S, Balaban M, Ozer Kaya D. Immediate effects of corrective exercise versus curl-up in women with diastasis recti abdominis. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2024 Oct;40:1610-1614. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.08.011. Epub 2024 Aug 15.

  PMID: 39593499 BACKGROUND

• Cuña-Carrera ID, Soto-González M, Alonso-Calvete A, González-González Y, Lantarón-Caeiro E. Immediate effects of different types of abdominal exercises on the inter-rectus distance. Isokinetics and exercise science. 2021

  BACKGROUND

• Gluppe S, Engh ME, Bo K. What is the evidence for abdominal and pelvic floor muscle training to treat diastasis recti abdominis postpartum? A systematic review with meta-analysis. Braz J Phys Ther. 2021 Nov-Dec;25(6):664-675. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2021.06.006. Epub 2021 Jul 21.

  PMID: 34391661 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• adeela arif, t-DPT

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

imran amjad, PhD

CONTACT

03324390125; imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2026
• First Posted: February 27, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)