Effects of Abdominal Exercises and Kinesio Taping on Abdominal Strength in Females With Diastasis Recti.

Diastasis recti is an increase in the gap between the rectus abdominis muscles at the midline caused by anterior abdominal wall weakening. Diastasis recti abdominis is most common in the female population during pregnancy and after childbirth. The abdominals are stretched as your uterus expands during pregnancy, and the linea alba thins and pulls apart causes the rectus abdominis muscles to split during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of abdominal exercises with and without Kinesio taping on abdominal strength of females with diastasis recti for their better quality of life.

This study will be randomized controlled trial .Subjects with diastasis recti meeting the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria will be requested to participate in the study via informed consent. Non probability convenient sampling technique will be used. 46 participants will be randomly allocated to either Group A or Group B via lottery method.Subjects in Group A will be treated with Kinesio Taping applied in a criss -cross design for consecutive 3 days with 1 day gap after taping will do abdominal exercises which consists of abdominal crunch exercise ,Curl up,abdominal isometric contractions ,posterior pelvic tilt ,bridging. perform these exercises twice a week for 10 repititions for 1 month . Group B will be treated with above mentioned abdominal exercises for 1 month. Pre and post assessment of diastasis recti and abdominal strength will be done using caliper method and manual muscle test and quality of life will be assessed by MAPP-QOL questionnaire. Data will be collected from Jinnah Hospital Lahore.The data collected will be analyzed using SPSS 25.

Inclusion criteria

• Post natal till 6 months
• Rectus abdominis diastasis > 2.7 cm at umbilicus
• Age 18 to 40

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant female
• Hernia
• Females with physical and mental illness
• Females with any other medical condition like cardiorespiratory diseases
• History of malignancy
• Urogynecologic disorders
• Females suffering from other gynecological issues such as endometriosis
• Polycystic ovaries syndrome