Comparative Effects of Hypopressive and Split Tummy Exercises in Postpartum Diastasis Recti

NCT07628400 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR & AHS/25/0512
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

To compare the effects of hypopressive exercises and split tummy (transverse abdominal activation-based) exercises on inter-recti distance (IRD), pelvic floor muscle strength and function, and overall quality of life improvements in postpartum women with diastasis recti. This study will be randomized clinical trial and will be conducted in Hameed Latif Hospital Lahore and Civil Hospital Sukkur. The total duration of treatment will be 8 week. Non-probability convenience sampling technique will be used and 50 participants will be recruited in study after randomization. The subjects will be divided into two groups. Group A will receive hypopressive exercise with baseline treatment abdominal binding. Group B will receive baseline treatment with split tummy exercises.

Conditions

Diastasis Recti

Keywords

Female; Exercise; Exercise therapy; Pelvic floor; Postpartum period; Muscle strength.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Digital Vernier Calliper

  The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and inter-recti distance were measured at the start (baseline) and again at the 8th week. A digital vernier caliper was used to assess the inter-recti distance at three specific locations: directly at the umbilicus, 4.5 cm above, and 4.5 cm below it. The ODI evaluates functional disability based on ten factors: pain intensity, ability to maintain personal hygiene, lifting, work, standing, sitting, sleeping, sexual activity, social interaction, and travel. ODI scores range as follows: 0-20% indicates minimal disability, 21-40% suggests moderate disability, 41-60% reflects severe disability, 61-80% indicates significant functional limitation, and 81-100% implies the patient is confined to bed.

  8 weeks

• Quality of life questionnaire

  The SF-36 is regarded as a valid and reliable tool with strong discriminatory and convergent validity that allows it to differentiate across respondent groups according to age, gender, and socioeconomic position. It has eight sub scales and 36 items. (1) Physical functioning (PF), (2) Role-physical (RP), (3) Bodily pain (BP), (4) General health (GH), (5) Vitality (VT), (6) Social functioning (SF), (7) Role-emotional (RE), and (8) Emotional wellbeing (EW). Higher ratings on each subscale, which range from 0 to 100, indicate better conditions .

  8 weeks

• Pelvic floor strength and function

  Digital assessment of PFM strength using the Oxford Grading Scale system will distributed as follows: weak (n = 1), moderate (n = 6), good (n = 10) and strong (n = 26)(16). The reliability of oxford grading scale system is 0.53.

  8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

hypopressive exercise

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

For participants in Group A, series of postural and breathing-based sequences will be given. Base-line is abdominal binding I will performed hypopressive exercises in various positions (lying, sitting, leaning forward, standing and quadruped) to improve breath control, abdominal contraction and pelvic floor engagement. Each session began with focused breathing, full increasing based on tolerance. Exercises were repeated in different postures to assess endurance in each, as individual holding each contraction 5 seconds and relax for 10 seconds capacity varied by position. Participants engaged in these exercises for 20 minutes, 3 times per week, over a 8 week period, with moderate to high intensity based on breath-hold duration and postural demand.

Other: hypopressive exercise

split tummy exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

Base-line abdominal binding I will perform isometric exercises (1) Modified plank hold (2) Pelvic tilts (3) Transverse abdominis engagement. For modified plank hold in this position participants with their knees on the ground instead of toes. Engage core muscles and hold for 30 to 60 seconds. For pelvic tilts participants lie on back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Tilt the pelvic upwards and then back down again, repeating the motion in a slow and controlled manner. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds. For transverse abdominis engagement participants lies on back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Engage transverse abdominis muscle and drawing belly button towards spine. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds. 3 times in a week involving at least three sets of 10 repetitions each. To improved core strength and stability, increased muscle endurance and isometric exercises can be low-impact, making them suitable for individuals with diastasis recti.

Other: split tummy exercises

Interventions

hypopressive exercise OTHER

For participants in Group A, series of postural and breathing-based sequences will be given. Base-line is abdominal binding I will performed hypopressive exercises in various positions (lying, sitting, leaning forward, standing and quadruped) to improve breath control, abdominal contraction and pelvic floor engagement. Each session began with focused breathing, full increasing based on tolerance. Exercises were repeated in different postures to assess endurance in each, as individual holding each contraction 5 seconds and relax for 10 seconds capacity varied by position. Participants engaged in these exercises for 20 minutes, 3 times per week, over a 8 week period, with moderate to high intensity based on breath-hold duration and postural demand.

hypopressive exercise

split tummy exercises OTHER

Base-line abdominal binding I will perform isometric exercises (1) Modified plank hold (2) Pelvic tilts (3) Transverse abdominis engagement. For modified plank hold in this position participants with their knees on the ground instead of toes. Engage core muscles and hold for 30 to 60 seconds. For pelvic tilts participants lie on back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Tilt the pelvic upwards and then back down again, repeating the motion in a slow and controlled manner. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds. For transverse abdominis engagement participants lies on back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Engage transverse abdominis muscle and drawing belly button towards spine. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds. 3 times in a week involving at least three sets of 10 repetitions each. To improved core strength and stability, increased muscle endurance and isometric exercises can be low-impact, making them suitable for individuals with diastasis recti.

split tummy exercises

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 24 Years - 40 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Multiparous women with vaginal Mode of delivery. Subjects who gave vaginal birth with or without episiotomy in multiparous women in hypopressive.
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age: 24 to 40years
• Weight: 50 to 70kg
• Height: 4.5 to 6ft
• BMI: Both underweight and overweight/ obese individuals can experience DRA.
• Parity: Multiparous
• Mode of delivery: vaginal delivery in split tummy.
• Subjects who gave vaginal birth with or without episiotomy in multiparous women in hypopressive.

You may not qualify if:

• Undergoing a severe illness
• Uncompleted inter-rectus distance (IRD) records
• Have a history of pelvic floor dysfunction
• Primiparous, polyhydramnios, uterine fibroids during pregnancy, previous abdominal, surgery caesarean delivery
• Subjects with untreated high blood pressure, cardiovascular illness, hernia, pregnant and underwent any recent surgeries.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Civil Hospital Sukkur

Sukkur, Punjab Province, 65200, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (5)

• 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

• Rodriguez-Romero B, Senin-Camargo F, Sande-Fuentes J, Martinez-Bustelo S. Exercises to treat diastasis rectus abdominis and improve abdominal function: Two case reports. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2025 Sep;38(5):1180-1188. doi: 10.1177/10538127251325839. Epub 2025 Apr 10.

  PMID: 40208059 BACKGROUND

• Theodorsen NM, Moe-Nilssen R, Bo K, Haukenes I. Effect of exercise on the inter-rectus distance in pregnant women with diastasis recti abdominis: an experimental longitudinal study. Physiotherapy. 2023 Dec;121:13-20. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2023.08.001. Epub 2023 Aug 23.

  PMID: 37812848 BACKGROUND

• Sekar R, Ramalingam V, Nirmala JG, Muniandy Y. Effectiveness of Abdominal Hypopressive Technique on Diastasis Recti among Postpartum Women. Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy. 2024;18.

  BACKGROUND

• Shohaimi S, Husain NRN, Zaki FM, Atan IK. Split Tummy Exercise Program for Reducing Diastasis Recti in Postpartum Primigravidae: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Korean J Fam Med. 2023 Mar;44(2):102-108. doi: 10.4082/kjfm.22.0035. Epub 2023 Mar 20.

  PMID: 36966740 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Hafiza Iqra Rubab, MSWHPT

  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: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2026
• First Posted: June 5, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)