Therapeutic effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with Flexi-bar exercise training on postpartum diastasis recti abdominis

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with Flexi-bar exercise training on postpartum diastasis recti abdominis (DRA).

Methods A total of 120 postpartum DRA patients were selected and randomly divided into observation group (60 cases) and control group (60 cases). Patients in the control group received NMES treatment, while those in the observation group received NMES treatment combined with Flexi-bar exercise therapy. The therapeutic effects between the two groups were compared after 6 weeks of continuously treatment.

Results Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the distance between the rectus abdominis muscles at 4 cm above and below the umbilicus, or at the level of the umbilicus between two groups (P>0.05); after treatment, those distances were significantly reduced, and the distance between the rectus abdominis muscles at 4 cm above and below the umbilicus in the observation group were smaller than control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of upper abdominal circumference, middle abdominal circumference, lower abdominal circumference, rectus abdominis root mean square (RMS), maximum muscle strength of classⅠmuscle fibers of pelvic floor, average muscle strength of class Ⅱ muscle fibers of pelvic floor, and 36-item Shot-form Health Status Survey(SF-36) scores before treatment (P>0.05); after treatment, the upper abdominal circumference, middle abdominal circumference and lower abdominal circumference of the two groups were decreased than those before treatment, and were lower in the observation group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The rectus abdominis RMS, maximum muscle strength of class Ⅰ muscle fibers of pelvic floor, average muscle strength of class Ⅱ muscle fibers of pelvic floor, and SF-36 scores of the two groups were increased than those before treatment, and were higher in the observation group compared to the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion NMES combined with Flexi-bar exercise training on postpartum DRA has significant therapeutic effect, which is helpful to enhance the abdominal muscle strength and improve the quality of life of patients.