Diastasis recti in the Beninese population: Cross-sectional study from normal values to diagnosis.
Yollande S Djivoh, Toussaint Kpadonou, Thierry Puttemans and 1 others
PMID 36483130WHAT IT FOUND
In Beninese postpartum women, a slack linea alba detected by palpation was linked to weaker abdominal muscles and endurance, even when the muscle gap measured by calipers was below the standard threshold for diastasis recti.
Palpation should be used alongside gap measurement to identify women needing rehabilitation.
Key findings
01Postpartum women with a slack linea alba had significantly lower abdominal strength and endurance, and a larger interrecti distance, compared to those with a stiff linea alba.
02A slack linea alba was associated with less abdominal strength and endurance even in women who did not meet the standard threshold for diastasis recti.
03The prevalence of diastasis recti in postpartum women was 46% when using an interrecti distance threshold of 23 mm at rest.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study participants were recruited from a university hospital and health faculty in Cotonou, so they had moderate to high education levels and may not represent the wider Beninese population. The threshold for diagnosing diastasis recti in postpartum women (P80) was based on a small subgroup of only 20 primiparous women. Linea alba stiffness was assessed by a single physiotherapist using palpation, which is subjective, although test-retest reliability was high in a small pilot. The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that a slack linea alba causes weak abdominal muscles, only that they are associated.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a normal interrecti distance measurement rules out the need for abdominal rehabilitation. A significant proportion of women with normal gap measurements had a slack linea alba and weak abdominal muscles, so palpation and functional strength testing are necessary to identify those who will benefit from treatment.