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This clinical trial aims to compare the immediate tissue response in postpartum women with and without rectus abdominis diastasis (RAD) after undergoing radiofrequency diathermy (RFD) treatment. The main question it seeks to answer is: Do postpartum women with and without RAD exhibit different acute tissue responses in terms of pressure pain threshold, superficial thermal sensitivity, and tissue elasticity? To determine whether there are differences in these acute tissue responses between the groups, researchers will compare RFD with a sham RFD intervention in postpartum women with and without RAD.
Participants will receive one session of either RFD or a sham RFD intervention and will complete three assessments: one at baseline and two after the intervention, one immediately afterwards and one 20 minutes afterwards.
A randomised controlled experimental study will be conducted. The sample will consist of 48 postpartum women: 24 who have been diagnosed with pathological RAD and 24 who have not. The participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: (i) a radiofrequency diathermy (RFD) group (n = 12), and (ii) a sham RFD group (n = 12). All participants will receive a single treatment session. Evaluations will be performed at three time points: baseline, immediately after the intervention and 20 minutes post-intervention. The variables assessed will include pressure pain threshold, superficial thermal sensitivity and tissue elasticity.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFD women with RAD | Experimental | Women with RAD will receive RFD for 20 minutes, with 10 minutes applied using the capacitive method and 10 minutes using the resistive method. |
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| RFD women without RAD | Experimental | Women without RAD will also receive RFD for 20 minutes, with 10 minutes applied using the capacitive method and 10 minutes using the resistive method |
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| Sham RFD women with RAD | Sham Comparator | Women with RAD will receive 20 minutes of application of the RFD device without energy emission. 10 minutes using the capacitive electrode and 10 minutes using the resistive electrode. |
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| Sham RFD women without RAD | Sham Comparator | Women without RAD will likewise receive 20 minutes of application of the RFD device without energy emission. 10 minutes using the capacitive electrode and 10 minutes using the resistive electrode. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiofrequency diathermy (RFD) | Other | RFD for 20 minutes, with 10 minutes applied using the capacitive method and 10 minutes using the resistive method. |
|
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure pain threshold | The pressure pain threshold will be measured using an algometer by applying progressive force to a supraumbilical point (three centimetres above the navel, at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis on the dominant side) until the participant reports pain. A higher value indicates a higher pain threshold. | Baseline, immediately after the intervention and 20 minutes after the intervention. |
| Superficial thermal sensitivity | Superficial thermal sensitivity will be assessed using the Thermal Visual Analogue Scale. For this, the capacitive electrode will be placed over the rectus abdominis on both sides for 30 seconds. Participants will then rate their thermal sensation on a scale from 0 (no heat) to 10 (maximum tolerable heat). | Baseline, immediately after the interventino and 20 minutes after the intervention |
| Tissue elasticity | The MyotonPRO® myometer will be used to measure tissue elasticity over the rectus abdominis on both sides. Higher values indicate greater stiffness and lower tissue elasticity. | Baseline, immediately after the interventino and 20 minutes after the intervention |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marta Inglés de la Torre, PHD | Contact | 686320380 | marta.ingles@uv.es |
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| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Physiotherapy. University of Valencia | Recruiting | Valencia | Valencia | 46022 | Spain |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19637295 | Background | Beer GM, Schuster A, Seifert B, Manestar M, Mihic-Probst D, Weber SA. The normal width of the linea alba in nulliparous women. Clin Anat. 2009 Sep;22(6):706-11. doi: 10.1002/ca.20836. | |
| 31580698 | Result | Clijsen R, Leoni D, Schneebeli A, Cescon C, Soldini E, Li L, Barbero M. Does the Application of Tecar Therapy Affect Temperature and Perfusion of Skin and Muscle Microcirculation? A Pilot Feasibility Study on Healthy Subjects. J Altern Complement Med. 2020 Feb;26(2):147-153. doi: 10.1089/acm.2019.0165. Epub 2019 Oct 3. |
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|
| Radiofrequency diathermy (RFD) | Other | RFD for 20 minutes, with 10 minutes applied using the capacitive method and 10 minutes using the resistive method |
|
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| Sham radiofrequency diathermy ( sham RFD) | Other | 20 minutes of application of the RFD device without energy emission. 10 minutes using the capacitative electrode, and 10 minutes using the resistive electrode. |
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| Sham radiofrequency diathermy ( sham RFD) | Other | 20 minutes of application of the RFD device without energy emission.10 minutes using the capacitative electrode, and 10 minutes using the resistive electrode. |
|
| 40740146 | Result | Fuentes-Aparicio L, Munoz-Gomez E, Molla-Casanova S, Moreno-Segura N, Ingles M. Impact of capacitive resistive monopolar radiofrequency prior to a therapeutic physical exercise program on morphology and functionality in women with rectus diastasis: a randomized controlled trial. Disabil Rehabil. 2026 Jan;48(2):470-481. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2540068. Epub 2025 Jul 31. |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D003972 | Diathermy |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D006979 | Hyperthermia, Induced |
| D013812 | Therapeutics |
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