Assessment of Diastasis Recti Abdominis using Dial Caliper in Overweight and Obese Adults (18 years and above) and Its Relationship with Lumbopelvic Pain: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Diastasis recti abdominis is present in both gender and is associated with increasing age, activities including regular lifting of heavy weights or sit-ups, a history of midline abdominal surgery, significant hormonal changes due to replacement therapy, menopause, congenital, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obesity. Studies have proven physiotherapy is beneficial in managing DRA but not many studies are done to show presence of DRA. Hence our study is a small attempt at diagnosing DRA in most vulnerable population i.e. overweight and obese population. Objective: To assess presence of diastasis recti abdominis in overweight and obese adults (18 years and above) using dial caliper. To correlate diastasis recti abdominis with lumbopelvic pain, gender and parity. Methods: 90 subjects were allocated in this study (30 overweight, 30 obese 1 and 30 obese 2). Presence of DRA was assessed using dial caliper in them and correlated with BMI. Subjects who had DRA present, their values were correlated further with Lumbopelvic pain, gender and parity. Results: Out of 90 subjects, 67 (74%) had DRA present [21 (23.3%) in overweight, 22 (24.4%) in obese 1, 24 (26.6%) in obese 2].There is no correlation of Presence of DRA with BMI. DRA has no correlation with lumbopelvic pain and gender. DRA has moderate positive correlation with parity. Conclusion: There is Presence of Diastasis Recti Abdominis in overweight, obese 1 and obese 2 adults; however, they are at equal risk of having DRA. Subjects with DRA are not more likely to have lumbopelvic pain than subjects without DRA. DRA can occur in males as well as females and multiparous females are at increased risk of developing DRA than nulliparous and primiparous. KEY WORDS: Diastasis recti abdominis, overweight, obesity, physiotherapy, lumbopelvic pain.