Abdominal diastasis evaluations: scoping review protocol

• Grant number: 24/16110-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Carolina de Oliveira Cruz Latorraca
• Grantee: Rafael Andwele Alves Antunes
• Host Institution: Campus Ipiranga. Centro Universitário São Camilo (CUSP). União Social Camiliana (USC). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle (DRAM) is a condition that presents significant challenges due to the lack of standardized definition and classification, leading to inaccurate diagnoses and ineffective treatments. The major difficulty in estimating the prevalence of DRAM lies in the variation of diagnostic criteria, making it difficult to identify a universally accepted approach for the diagnosis and management of the condition. The aim of this scoping review is to comprehensively and systematically identify the definitions and classifications used to diagnose DRAM in different clinical and population contexts. To achieve this goal, the following steps will be undertaken: an exhaustive search of the medical literature, comparison of classification approaches, and synthesis of the results to propose a unified classification of DRAM. The outcomes of this review will contribute to the establishment of a standardized and accurate classification of DRAM, providing valuable insights for the development of more robust clinical guidelines and more effective treatment protocols. Additionally, identifying gaps and synthesizing the current evidence on DRAM can guide future research and promote significant advances in the understanding and treatment of this condition.