Eficacia de un dispositivo de estimulación neuromuscular eléctrica vestible en el tronco en mujeres posparto con diástasis de rectos abdominales: un ensayo controlado aleatorizado prospectivo

Diastasis of rectus abdominis (DRA) is a common pathological condition in postpartum rehabilitation, but with limited treatment strategies. This study aimed to explore the effect of using a trunk-wearable neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) device on postpartum women with moderate and severe DRA. A total of 84 postpartum women with an inter-rectus distance (IRD) of ≥3 cm were randomly assigned to two equal groups. The treatment group received a trunk-wearable NMES device and exercise therapy, whereas the control group received exercise only. We measured IRD and calculated treatment response proportion, improvement of trunk muscle strength, and low-back pain in both groups. Additionally, we evaluated quality of life (QoL) using the SF-36 questionnaire and Hernia-related Quality of Life Survey (HerQLes). Statistical analysis was performed using SAS 9.4. After 8-week treatment, the IRD of the umbilical (M3) sector showed a greater reduction in the treatment group (-10.6 [-17.9 to -3.3]%, p < 0.05). Patients in the treatment group had higher treatment response proportions (p = 0.0031 and p = 0.0010, W2 and W3, respectively). Additionally, the treatment group had higher Janda assessment scores and greater reduction in low-back pain (both p < 0.0001). QoL evaluation indicated greater improvements in the SF-36 questionnaire (pain and role-emotional scales,p < 0.05) and HerQLes (p < 0.0001) in the treatment group. The application of a trunk-wearable NMES device on DRA patients, accompanied by exercise therapy, significantly reduced IRD and increased the treatment response proportion. Moreover, we observed positive improvements in trunk muscle strength, low-back pain, and QoL.