Effect of ultrasound cavitation on static and dynamic balance in obese postnatal women with diastasis recti: a randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Introduction
Obese postnatal women are prone to diastasis recti abdominis (DRA), resulting in postural instability and low back pain, and poorer quality of life. This study was designed to ascertain how ultrasound cavitation (UC) affects the static and dynamic postural balance of obese postpartum women with DRA.
Material and methods
Sixty obese postnatal women with DRA, age 25 to 35 years, body mass index 30 to 39.9 kg/m2, were recruited and assigned randomly into two equal groups. The study group was treated by UC twice weekly in addition to a caloric restriction diet for two months (n = 30), while the control group was treated by the same caloric restriction diet alone (n = 30). The primary outcome measure was the overall stability index (OSI) of static and dynamic balance, which was evaluated by the biodex balance system, while the secondary outcome measures included inter recti distance (IRD) and abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness, which were evaluated by abdominal ultrasonography.
Results
Significant within-group improvements were noted post-treatment versus pre-treatment for all outcome variables. Post-treatment, the study group demonstrated more significant improvements in static OSI (mean difference (MD) = 0.51; p = 0.001), dynamic OSI (MD = 0.18; p = 0.007), subcutaneous fat (MD = 1.01; p = 0.001) and IRD (MD = 0.98; p = 0.001).
Conclusions
UC may be considered an effective modality in improving both static and dynamic balance, besides reducing abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and IRD in obese postnatal women with DRA.
© 2024 Asmaa Maher Zahran et al., published by Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw
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