The male rectus diastasis: a different concept?

Area of Science:

• Abdominal wall biomechanics
• Gender-specific anatomical variations
• Clinical classifications of diastasis recti

Background:

• Rectus diastasis (abdominal muscle separation) is increasingly recognized beyond postpartum females.
• Middle-aged males with obesity represent a significant patient group for rectus diastasis.
• Existing classifications and treatments may not adequately address gender-specific nuances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current literature on rectus diastasis in males.
• To explore gender differences in the etiology, symptoms, classification, and treatment of rectus diastasis.
• To determine the applicability of a unisex approach to rectus diastasis management.

Main Methods:

• A non-systematic review of literature was conducted.
• Multi-database bibliographic search (PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE, PEDro, Scholar) focused on male rectus diastasis.
• Manual search of cited references was performed to identify additional relevant studies.

Main Results:

• Eleven studies were identified, providing insights into gender-specific aspects of rectus diastasis.
• Hereditary factors include collagen composition and abdominal aneurysm; acquired factors involve visceral obesity and improper exercise.
• Anatomical differences, such as fiber orientation, and biomechanical influencers like muscle thickness and age, contribute to gender-specific presentations and symptoms (e.g., body image, core stability).
• Awareness and research on male rectus diastasis are limited, with scarce outcome data.

Conclusions:

• Key aspects of rectus diastasis in males differ significantly from females.
• Male rectus diastasis warrants specific acknowledgment within classification systems.
• Future research and reporting should focus on this subgroup for accurate evaluation and tailored treatment strategies.