Correlação entre a distância inter-reto abdominal e a função dos músculos abdominais em puérperas com diástase dos retos abdominais

Abstract

Diastasis of the rectus abdominis (DRA) is characterized by the separation of the two rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba, which results in the formation of a space called inter-rectus distance (IRD). It is known that the rectus abdominis is the main muscle responsible for trunk flexion, and which also contributes to lateral flexion of the spine, being essential for humans to be able to stabilize the pelvic girdle, assisting in respiratory mechanics and body posture. Therefore, it is possible that the muscle separation present in women with DRA causes damage to the force vectors of the rectus abdominis muscles, enabling a decrease in contraction force. Thus, the objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the presence of a correlation between the abdominal inter-rectus distance and the function of the abdominal muscles in postpartum women with DRA. Women aged 18 or over were included; between 45 days and six months postpartum; diagnosed with DRA. The participants were evaluated for inter-rectus distance using ultrasound and for muscle function using the ventral, right and left lateral plank test. For data analysis, the Spearman correlation test was applied. The presence of a moderate negative correlation was observed between the values of the supra-umbilical IRD at rest and the values of the left lateral plank test (r= - 0.45; p=0.002). A weak negative correlation was also observed between the values of the supra-umbilical IRD at rest and the values of the right side plank test (r= - 0.37; p=0.012), as well as between the values of the supra-umbilical IRD in flexion and the values from the left side plank test (r= - 0.31; p=0.035). It is concluded that in postpartum women with DRA, there is a moderate negative correlation between the values of the supra-umbilical IRD at rest and the values of the left lateral plank test and a weak negative correlation between the values of the supra-umbilical IRD at rest and the values from the right side plank test as well as between the supra-umbilical IRD values in flexion and the values from the left side plank test.