title: Prevalence of diastasis recti abdominis in a urogynecological patient population.
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.
authors.affiliation: Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA. spitznaglet@msnote.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Theresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Spitznagle
authors.forename: Fah Che
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: Linda R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Van Dillen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology; D017699:Pelvic Pain; D015995:Prevalence; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000453:epidemiology*