Hypopressive Abdominal Exercise in Postpartum Abdominal Diastasis

Hypopressive Abdominal Exercise Effectiveness in Postpartum Abdominal Diastasis, Tone of the Transverse Muscle and the Pelvic Floor Muscles - Case Series

The prevalence of abdominal diastasis is high in postpartum. The abdominal diastasis can impair the body posture, the of lumbo-pelvic stability and movement, or breathing. Exercises focused on the transversus abdominis muscle have been proposed as a therapeutic approach for abdominal diastasis.

Hypopressive abdominal exercises have been used for postpartum recovery, for specific pathologies related to pregnancy (low back pain, pelvic floor dysfunction ...) and even for the rehabilitation of spinal pathologies. However, there is a lack of studies that determine its effectiveness and clinical utility.

The aim of the study will be to analyze the effects of Hypopressive abdominal exercises on postpartum abdominal diastasis, the tone of the transverse abdominal muscle and the pelvic floor musculature.

A case series design will be applied, with weekly assessment of the outcomes after the intervention and two months after the intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• primiparous or multiparous
• abdominal diastasis previously diagnosed
• commitment to perform, at least, 80% of the exercises
• signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• BMI > 40 Kg/m2
• pelvic floor disorders before childbirth
• drugs with effects on continence or functional properties of the pelvic floor muscles
• treatment for abdominal diastasis in the last 6 months
• systemic disease that impairs pelvic floor physiology and urination
• menopause
• contraindications to the practice of physical exercise and physical therapy