RASEDUSEGA KAASNEVA M. RECTUS ABDOMINIS’E DIASTAASI ENNETUS JA SÜNNITUSJÄRGNE KORREKTSIOON TERAPEUTILISTE HARJUTUSTEGA
The prevention and postnatal correction of pregnancyinduced diastasis rectus abdominis with therapeutic exercises
Karina Talk, Reet Linkberg
Abstract The divarication of the rectus abdominis muscle known as diastasis recti (DRA) is a condition which is described as the splitting of the two rectus bellies and the stretching of the linea alba. DRA may be present congenitally and with some chronic illnesses, but is most common among pregnant and postnatal women. The purpose of this thesis was to give an evidence-based review on the occurrence of DRA during pregnancy and after delivery, as well as its prevention and treatment with therapeutic exercises. The author aimed to describe the nature, symptoms and risk factors of DRA, the prevalence of DRA in pregnant women and in postpartum and the diagnostics of DRA during pregnancy and in the postpartum and provide an overview of the effect of therapeutic exercises on DRA during pregnancy and in the postpartum period The thesis was written as a review on available literature. It was concluded that the prevalence of DRA among pregnant and postnatal women was very common, varying from 30% to 100%. However, the prevalence of DRA was smaller among women who engaged in abdominal exercises during pregnancy. There has been noted a natural resolution of DRA to some degree after delivery, but the abiding diastasis could be corrected with exercises directed to m. rectus abdominis and m. transversus abdominis, which were accompanied by pelvic
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