Relationship between Abdominal Conditioning and Prevalence of Diastasis Rectus Abdominis during Pregnancy among Primigravids
1Usman Abubakar Modibbo (B.Sc) & 2Dr ShmailaHanif (Ph.D)
1Department of Physiotherapy, Federal Medical Centre, Katsina
2Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano
E-mail: ptmodibbo@gmail.com, shelllshelll@yahoo.com
Corresponding Author: Dr. Shmaila Hanif
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to determine the relationship between abdominal conditioning and the prevalence of Diastasis Rectus Abdominis during pregnancy among primigravids. A total of 310 primigravids were recruited from Antenatal clinic, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Eight of the participants were diagnosed to have diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) and more than half of the participants of this study were found to be abdominally not conditioned. DRA status was classified as present and absent according to Noble’s criteria whereas abdominal conditioning status of the participants was categorized as conditioned and not conditioned with respect to McArdle, Katch and Katch criteria. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation and simple percentage to describe the participants’ physical characteristics. Inferential statistics of spearman’s correlation described the relationship between abdominal conditioning and prevalence of DRA; Chi-square was computed to determine difference in prevalence of DRA across the trimesters. The result of the study indicates that most of the subjects were in their second trimester. Also, abdominal conditioning is related to prevalence of DRA in primigravids such that pregnant women with weakened abdominals can easily develop DRA. DRA is more prevalent in third trimester. Based on the results obtained from this study, it was recommended that all pregnant women should be examined for the presence of DRA and physiotherapists should design both prenatal and postnatal exercises.
Keywords: Diastasis rectus abdominis, prevalence, trimester, pregnancy.
