Diastasis recti abdominis and pelvic floor dysfunction in peri- and postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study

Author(s)

Harada, Beatriz Souza ^[1] ; De Bortolli, Thaina Tolosa ^[1] ; Carnaz, Leticia ^[1] ; Souza De Conti, Marta Helena ^[1] ; Hijaz, Adoniz ^[2] ; Driusso, Patricia ^[3] ; Marini, Gabriela ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Ctr Univ Sagrad Coracao UNISAGRAD, Pro Reitoria Pos Grad & Pesquisa PRPGP, Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[2] Case Western Reserve Univ, Dept Urol, Cleveland, OH - USA

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Phys Therapy, Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PHYSIOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE; DEC 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) and pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) occurs commonly with aging; however, little is known about what leads to these changes. Objective: We aimed to investigate and compare the presence or absence of DRA and PFD in peri- and postmenopausal women. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 150 participants who answered questions on their sociodemographic and clinical profiles related to urinary and fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Diastasis recti abdominis was diagnosed with a digital caliper. Results: Supra-umbilical diastasis occurred in 37.3% of cases, and 78.6% of participants with DRA had PFD. No significant differences existed between participants with and without DRA in terms of background and clinical variables. However, participants with DRA were 2.6 times more likely to have PFD than participants without DRA. Furthermore, the presence of DRA was significantly shown to be a risk factor for PFD on binary logistic regression analyses (p = .01, OR = 3.2). Conclusions: This cross-sectional study suggests that DRA is a predictive factor of PFD in women aged over 50 years. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/09733-9 - Prevalence abdominal muscle straight diastasis and floor dysfunction pelvic complaints in women in climacteric
• Grantee: Beatriz Souza Harada
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 17/08371-9 - Correlation of pelvic floor muscle function and inter-rectus distance of abdominal muscles in menopause and climateric women
• Grantee: Gabriela Marini Prata
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/01994-3 - Correlation of pelvic floor muscle function and inter-rectus distance of abdominal muscles in menopause and climateric women
• Grantee: Thainá Tolosa de Bortolli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Technical Training Program - Technical Training