Comparative Effects of Telerehabilitation Versus In-Person Core Stability Training in Postpartum Women

NCT07751952 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 54

Last updated 2026-08-12

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is common among postpartum women and can negatively affect abdominal muscle function and body image. Core stability exercises are widely recommended for postpartum rehabilitation; however, access to supervised physiotherapy may be limited. Tele rehabilitation may improve accessibility while maintaining treatment effectiveness. This randomized controlled trial compares tele rehabilitation-based and in-person supervised core stability exercise programs in postpartum women with diastasis recti. The primary objective is to compare changes in inter-recti distance, while the secondary objective is to compare changes in body image after an 8-week intervention

Conditions

  • Postpartum
  • Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA)

Interventions

OTHER

Telerehabilitation

Participants were assessed at baseline by a physiotherapist and attended supervised in-clinic follow-up sessions every two weeks to monitor progress and ensure correct exercise performance. Individualized exercise demonstrations were recorded on participants' mobile devices to facilitate home-based practice. The intervention consisted of an 8-week progressive postpartum exercise program beginning at 6 weeks postpartum, including pelvic floor muscle (Kegel) exercises, abdominal bracing, trtransversus abdominis (TrA) activation, and pelvic tilts. Exercise dosage (sets, repetitions, hold time, and fast contractions) was progressively increased each week according to the study protocol to improve pelvic floor muscle strength, core stability, and lumbopelvic control.

OTHER

In-Person

Participants were assessed at baseline by a physiotherapist and participated in supervised in-person group exercise sessions for 8 weeks, beginning at 6 weeks postpartum. The intervention followed the same progressive exercise protocol as the telerehabilitation group and included pelvic floor muscle (Kegel) exercises, abdominal bracing, transversus abdominis (TrA) activation, and pelvic tilts, with weekly progression in sets, repetitions, hold duration, and fast contractions. The physiotherapist provided real-time supervision, exercise correction, and progression throughout the intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Riphah International University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Rida Ijaz, MSPT(WH) · Riphah International University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
40 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-08-10
Primary Completion
2026-10-31
Completion
2026-12-31

Countries

  • Pakistan

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07751952 on ClinicalTrials.gov