Correlation between self-reported low back pain and morphological changes in abdominal wall muscles.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is common postpartum, often associated with low back pain (LBP).
• The precise relationship between DRA severity, abdominal muscle morphology, and LBP symptoms remains unclear.
• Investigating morphological changes in abdominal muscles and interrectus distance (IRD) in DRA patients with and without LBP is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the correlation between diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) severity and low back pain (LBP).
• To compare the morphological differences in abdominal wall muscles between DRA patients with and without LBP symptoms.
• To assess the relationship between interrectus distance (IRD) and LBP in postpartum women.

Main Methods:

• 57 postpartum women with DRA (21 asymptomatic, 36 with LBP) and 30 controls were enrolled.
• Low back pain (LBP) severity was assessed using the numerical rating scale (NRS).
• Abdominal muscle thickness and interrectus distance (IRD) were measured using ultrasonography.

Main Results:

• Abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis, external oblique, transversus abdominis) were thinner in DRA patients compared to controls.
• No significant differences in abdominal muscle thickness or IRD were found between DRA patients with and without LBP.
• LBP severity (NRS score) did not correlate with DRA severity or abdominal muscle thickness.

Conclusions:

• In postpartum DRA patients, LBP symptoms are not associated with significant differences in DRA severity or abdominal muscle morphology.
• Reducing interrectus distance (IRD) alone may not alleviate low back pain (LBP) in patients with diastasis recti abdominis (DRA).
• The interplay between DRA, abdominal muscles, and postpartum LBP requires cautious interpretation.