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NCT Number: NCT07520409

Effects of Drawing in Maneuver and Resisted Ankle Dorsiflexion in Postpartum Diastasis Recti

The aim of this study is to compare the combine effects of drawing in maneuver and resisted ankle dorsiflexion on pain, inter-recti distance, strength and quality of life in postpartum diastasis recti.

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Key information

Conditions

Diastasis Recti

Age range

20 year–45 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Al Zahra Hospital

Guiranwala, Punjab Province, 52250, Pakistan

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Rida Zainab, MSPT(WH)

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

hina gul, PhD*

CONTACT

[email protected]

03214979172

About this study

Randomized controlled research will assess how drawing-in maneuver and resisted ankle dorsiflexion together affect postpartum women with diastasis recti in terms of pain, inter-recti distance, abdominal strength, and quality of life. 20-40 years females from 6 weeks to 6 months to post-partum period will be included in this study and the data will be collected from Al Zahra Hospital, Ali medical center and Sharif Medical Complex. Two groups of 42 individuals will be randomly assigned to either the drawing-in maneuver alone (Group A, n = 21) or a combination of the drawing-in technique and resisted ankle dorsiflexion (Group B, n = 21). For six weeks, the intervention will be administered twice a week to both groups. Manual muscle testing for strength, caliper measurement for IRD, the SF-36 questionnaire for quality of life and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain will all be used in baseline and post-treatment evaluations. The data will be analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Postpartum females (6 weeks to 6 months postpartum)
  • Diagnosed with diastasis recti (IRD ≥ 2.5 cm)
  • Age 20-45 years
  • Mode of delivery
  • Multiparity

Exclusion criteria

  • History of abdominal surgery
  • Pelvic organ prolapses
  • Neurological or orthopedic disorders
  • Presence of low back pain, hernia, or musculoskeletal disorders
  • Participation in any other abdominal rehabilitation program in the last 3 months

Treatment and study plan

DRAWING IN MANEUVER

Other

Each contraction will be held for 10 seconds and repeated 10 times per session. This exercise will be performed two to three times per week for six weeks

RESISTED ANKLE DORSIFLEXION

Other

They will dorsiflex the ankle, pulling the toes toward the shin against the resistance, hold for 5-10 seconds, and then return to the starting position. Each leg will complete three sets of 10 repetitions, performed two to three times weekly

Primary outcomes

  1. Numeric Pain Rating Scale

    Time frame: 6th week

    This scale examines the subjective degree of pain severity is estimated using a horizontal line on a standardized self-reporting scale. The pain level is represented by an 11-point numerical scale. There is no pain (0), mild pain (1-2-3), moderate pain (4-5-6), and severe pain (7-8-9-10).

  2. Caliper Measurement

    Time frame: 6th week

    To assess inter-recti distance at reference points (above, at, and below the umbilicus) the caliper will be used. To measure inter-recti distance 4.5 cm above and below the umbilicus (indicated with skin markings), the inside jaws of the calipers are placed between the medial edges of the right and left rectus abdominis muscles as palpated by the examiner

  3. Manual Muscle Testing (MMT)

    Time frame: 6th week

    . Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) is a widely used clinical method to evaluate the strength of individual muscles or muscle groups on a standardized 0 to 5 scale. A grade of 0 indicates no visible or palpable muscle contraction, while 1 (Trace) denotes a slight muscle flicker without any movement. A grade 2 (Poor) means the muscle can complete full range of motion only when gravity is eliminated. Grade 3 (Fair) signifies the ability to move the joint through the full range of motion against gravity, but not against any resistance. Grade 4 (Good) indicates that the muscle can perform against moderate resistance, and grade 5 (Normal) represents full strength with the ability to resist maximal manual pressure

  4. SF-36

    Time frame: 6th week

    The SF-36 (Short Form-36 Health Survey) is a validated and reliable questionnaire used to assess health-related quality of life across eight domains, including physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, and mental health. Each domain is scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better quality of life

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

imran amjad

CONTACT

[email protected]

03324390125

imran amjad, PhD*

CONTACT

[email protected]

03324390125

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Combine Effects of Drawing in Maneuver and Resisted Ankle Dorsiflexion on Pain, Inter-recti Distance, Strength and Quality of Life in Postpartum Diastasis Recti

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 9, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 9, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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