Prevalence of diastasis recti abdominis in a urogynecological patient population

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Abstract

A urogynecologist's examination typically includes assessment of the abdominal musculature, including the determination of whether a diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is present. The purposes of the current study were to examine the (1) prevalence of DRA in a urogynecological population, (2) differences in select characteristics of patients with and without DRA, and (3) relationship of DRA to support-related pelvic floor dysfunction diagnoses. A retrospective chart review was conducted by an independent examiner. Fifty-two percent of the patients examined presented with DRA. Patients with DRA were older, reported higher gravity and parity, and had weaker pelvic floor muscles than patients without DRA. Sixty-six percent of all the patients with DRA had at least one support-related pelvic floor dysfunction (SPFD) diagnosis. There was a relationship between the presence of DRA and the SPFD diagnoses of stress urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)321-328
Number of pages8
JournalInternational Urogynecology Journal
Volume18
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2007

Keywords

  • Diastasis recti abdominis
  • Fecal incontinence
  • Pelvic organ prolapse
  • Stress urinary incontinence
  • Support-related pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Urogynecological diagnosis

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