Effect of Hypopressive Exercise Versus General Strengthening in Postpartum Women

University of Valencia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Postpartum Women

Treatments: Other: hypopressive abdominal exercise; Other: general strengthening exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04084119

H1545907781766

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to compare the effect of a hypopressive abdominal exercise program versus a general strengthening exercise program on inter-recti distance, abdominal and lumbar muscle thickness, lumbopelvic and abdominal pain and function, pelvic floor dysfunction, and quality of life in postpartum women. To evaluate the effects of the interventions, the subjects will be assessed at pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention and at 3-months follow-up.

Full description

The aim of this study is to compare the effect of a hypopressive abdominal exercise program versus a general strengthening exercise program on inter-recti distance, abdominal and lumbar muscle thickness, lumbopelvic and abdominal pain and function, pelvic floor dysfunction, and quality of life in postpartum women. To evaluate the effects of the hypopressive exercise, the subjects will be assessed at pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention and at 3-months follow-up.

It will consist of a randomized controlled trial study. The sample will consist of women in the early postpartum period (6-8 weeks after delivery). Subjects will be randomly allocated to two different exercise programs: hypopressive abdominal exercise program and general strengthening exercise program. Both interventions will have a total duration of 6 weeks (18 sessions), 3 times a week, 30 minutes each session.

To evaluate the effects of the interventions, the subjects will be assessed at pre-intervention (6th-8th week postpartum), immediately post-intervention (12th-14th week postpartum) and at 3-months follow-up (24th-26th week postpartum). Inter-recti distance, abdominal and lumbar muscle thickness, lumbopelvic and abdominal pain and function, pelvic floor dysfunction, and quality of life will be measured.

Enrollment: 58 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• women aged between 18-45 years old
• in the 6th-8th week postpartum
• both vaginal or caesarean delivery
• both primiparous or multiparous women

Exclusion criteria

• previous abdominal or pelvic surgery
• reasons to suspect metabolic, neurological or neuromuscular disease
• multiple birth delivery

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

58 participants in 2 patient groups

hypopressive abdominal exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will perform an hypopressive abdominal exercise program consisting of 18 sessions (6 weeks), 3 times a week, 30 minutes each session.

Treatment:

Other: hypopressive abdominal exercise

general strengthening exercise

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will perform a general strengthening exercise program consisting of 18 sessions (6 weeks), 3 times a week, 30 minutes each session.

Treatment:

Other: general strengthening exercise