Efeito do método pilates na função dos músculos abdominais em mulheres com diástase dos retos abdominais

Abstract

Introduction: Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is the separation of the abdominal muscles, common after childbirth, which can cause pain, muscle weakness, common after impact. The initial treatment is conservative, with physical therapy and core exercises. When there is no improvement, surgery is indicated. The Pilates method, by strengthening the core and promoting body awareness, can be an effective alternative, although there are still few studies on its effects on DRA. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effects of Pilates on abdominal function in women with DRA. Methodology: This is a randomized, longitudinal, quantitative, clinical trial with 44 women diagnosed with diastasis of the rectus abdominais muscles. They were randomly divided into two groups: Pilates (n=22) and Control (n=22). The Pilates group performed supervised 30-minute sessions twice a week for 12 weeks, with gradual progression of the exercises. The control group received no interventions during the same period. Muscle function was assessed before and after the protocol using the front and side plank tests, measuring the time the posture was held. Results: After 12 weeks, the Pilates group showed significant improvement in abdominal muscle function, evidenced by increased holding time in the right and left side planks (p=0.004), while the control group showed no improvement. There was no significant difference in the front plank between the groups. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that the Pilates method can be used as na effective tool in strengthening the abdominal wall of women with DRA.