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NCT Number: NCT07001046

Impact of Mobile App-Based Exercises on Rectus Diastasis in Women Undergoing Cesarean Birth

Diastasis recti abdominis, or rectus diastasis, is the separation of the two parts of the rectus abdominis muscle along the midline of the linea alba, without any visible defect in the fascia.

Diastasis recti abdominis is most frequent during pregnancy and postpartum especially, after cesarean birth.

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Key information

Conditions

Diastasis Recti And Weakness Of The Linea Alba

Age range

25 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Faculty of physical therapy, South Valley University

Qina, Qena Governorate, 83523, Egypt

About this study

Cesarean births were linked to significant post-operative changes in the thickness of abdominal fasciae and muscles when compared to vaginal births and these changes may be involved in the higher rates of diastasis recti post-cesarean births.

Managing diastasis recti abdominis begins with its diagnosis, followed by targeted interventions.

Diagnosis usually involves manual palpation to estimate the gap between the rectus abdominis muscles along the tendinous sheet of the linea alba. Updated imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, are now more frequently used for diagnosis.

Treatment either surgical or conservative; emphasizes physical therapy and personalized exercise programs. This method targets strengthening specific core muscles, such as the transverse abdominis and the pelvic floor.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • First-time mothers who delivered by a cesarean birth
  • Post-cesarean women between 25 and 35 years old
  • Women with a Diastasis Recti of at least 1 cm separation above the umbilicus and at least 0.5 cm separation below the umbilicus

Exclusion criteria

  • First-time mothers who delivered by a vaginal birth
  • Multiparous mothers
  • Those who have not a Diastasis Recti
  • Mothers under 25 years old and those above 35 years old

Treatment and study plan

Mobile app-directed exercise program

Other

The mobile app-guided exercise program initially asks the mother questions to collect information. These questions were about their motivation for exercise, the main exercise goal, and the area of focus in the exercise program

Traditional Abdominal Exercises

Other

The traditional abdominal exercises program consisted of simple static abdominal exercises, graduated curl-ups, and corrected abdominal crunches with posterior pelvic tilting

Primary outcomes

  1. Inter-recti Separation

    Time frame: Assessment was done pre treatment sessions and immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions

    The distance between the medial borders of the rectus abdominis muscles measured in Centimeters (cm) by the diagnostic Ultrasound.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Abdominal muscle strength

    Time frame: Assessment was done pre treatment sessions and immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions

    A manual muscle test was used to assess the strength of rectus abdominis and abdominal obliques measured as an ordinal scale by a grading system of:

    Grade 0: No movement and no palpable contractions are evident.

    • Grade 1: No movement is possible but a flicker of a muscle contraction may be palpated.
    • Grade 2: With the arms held outstretched in front of the trunk, the patient lifts the head and cervical spine off the plinth. The scapulae remain on the plinth.
    • Grade 3: With the arms held outstretched in front of the trunk, the patient lifts the inferior angles of the scapulae clear of the plinth.
    • Grade 4: With the arms positioned across the chest, the patient lifts the inferior angles of the scapulae clear of the plinth.
    • Grade 5: With the hands positioned beside the ears, the patient lifts the inferior angles of the scapulae clear of the plinth.

  2. Girth measurements

    Time frame: Assessment was done pre treatment sessions and immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions

    A tape measure examined waist, Umbilical, and Hip circumferences in centimeters (cm).

  3. Satisfaction level

    Time frame: Assessment was done immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions

    A Questionnaire was used to assess the level of patient satisfaction with each treatment (grade 0; non-satisfaction for those have less than 9-10 on the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP), and 1; satisfaction for those who have 9-10 on the MYMOP.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

South Valley University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Mobile App-Based Exercises on Diastasis Rectus Abdominis in Post-Cesarean Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jun 3, 2025
Registry last updated
Aug 19, 2025

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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