Comparative Study on the Impact of Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening versus Core Stability Exercises on Rectus Diastasis and Diaphragmatic Mobility Postnatal | ||
| NILES journal for Geriatric and Gerontology | ||
| Volume 8, Issue 4, September 2025, Pages 456-463 PDF (341.31 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/niles.2025.412003.1128 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Ramez Yousry Fawzy Bakhoom* 1; Mina Nashat Halim Farag2; Basma Hussein Mohammed3; Mostafa A Abdelhameed4 | ||
| 1Lecturer of Physical Therapy, Department of physical therapy for Women Health, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Deraya University, EL Minia, Egypt. | ||
| 2Lecturer of physical therapy, Department of Physical Therapy for Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Nahda University, Beni Suef, Egypt. | ||
| 3Lecturer of physical therapy, Department of Physical Therapy for Neurology and Its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Nahda University, Beni Suef, Egypt. | ||
| 4Lecturer of Physical Therapy for surgery and burn , Faculty of Physical Therapy, Nahda University, Beni Suef, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: In postpartum women, rectus diastasis (RD) and decreased diaphragmatic mobility are common issues that frequently affect breathing, posture, and core stability. Purpose: This study compares the effects of core stability exercises (CSE) and pelvic floor muscle strengthening (PFMS) on diaphragmatic mobility and RD. Materials and Methods: Eighty postpartum women, equally split between the PFMS and CSE groups, participated in a randomized controlled experiment. Participants received structured exercise treatments for 12 weeks, and ultrasound imaging and M-mode ultrasonography were used to measure inter-recti distance (IRD), diaphragmatic excursion (DE), and core stability before and after the interventions, respectively. Results: The findings showed that both groups' IRD and DE had significantly improved. In comparison to the PFMS group (3.1 ± 0.5 cm to 2.0 ± 0.4 cm, p<0.001), the CSE group displayed a larger reduction in IRD (3.2 ± 0.6 cm to 1.5 ± 0.3 cm, p<0.001). In contrast to CSE (2.3 ± 0.4 cm to 3.5 ± 0.5 cm, p<0.001), PFMS showed a greater DE improvement (2.4 ± 0.5 cm to 4.1 ± 0.6 cm, p<0.001). Core stability was improved in both groups with no discernible changes (p<0.001 among groups). Conclusions: These results demonstrate the special advantages of PFMS and CSE in the treatment of diaphragmatic dysfunction and postnatal RD that indicating a possible benefit of combining the two therapies for the best possible recovery. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Rectus diastasis; diaphragmatic mobility; pelvic floor exercises; core stability; postnatal rehabilitation | ||
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