Correlation between abdominal rectus diastasis width and abdominal muscle strength

Area of Science:

• Abdominal surgery
• Musculoskeletal biomechanics
• Surgical outcomes

Background:

• Abdominal rectus diastasis (ARD) surgery is debated, with some viewing it as purely aesthetic.
• Lack of objective criteria hinders identification of surgical candidates who will benefit.
• Patient symptoms are often indefinite, complicating treatment decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between preoperative and intraoperative measurements of ARD width and objective muscle strength.
• To establish objective criteria for selecting patients for ARD surgery.
• To determine if ARD width correlates with abdominal muscle strength.

Main Methods:

• 57 patients undergoing ARD surgery were assessed.
• Preoperative ARD width was measured clinically and via CT scan.
• Intraoperative ARD width and abdominal muscle strength (flexion, extension, isometric) using Biodex System 4 were measured.
• Spearman correlation test was used.

Main Results:

• A strong correlation was found between intraoperative ARD width below the umbilicus and Biodex measurements during flexion (p = 0.007) and isometric workload (p = 0.01).
• No significant correlation was observed between muscle strength and BMI, waistline, or ARD width above the umbilicus.
• Preoperative assessments (clinical, CT scan) and intraoperative measurements above the umbilicus did not correlate with muscle strength.

Conclusions:

• Intraoperatively measured ARD width below the umbilicus is strongly correlated with abdominal muscle strength.
• Flexion and isometric abdominal muscle strength, measured by Biodex System 4, are linked to ARD width below the umbilicus.
• Objective intraoperative measurements can inform surgical decisions for ARD.