Effect of Exercises Performed with External Focus Instructions on Transversus Abdominis Thickness in Postpartum Women with Diastasis Recti.

Background

Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is a common condition in postpartum period and may affect abdominal function and trunk stability. Rehabilitation programs often include exercises targeting deep abdominal muscles such as the transversus abdominis. Instructional strategies derived from motor learning research, including the use of external focus, may influence how these exercises are performed.

Objectives

To investigate changes in transversus abdominis muscle thickness during the execution of rehabilitation exercises performed with external focus instructions in women with DRA.

Methods

A cross-sectional study with a within-subject quasi-experimental component was conducted in women with postpartum DRA. Ultrasound imaging was used to measure transversus abdominis thickness at rest and during the execution of therapeutic exercises performed under therapist guidance using external focus instructions.

Results

Participants demonstrated increases in transversus abdominis thickness during exercise execution compared with resting conditions, suggesting effective abdominal muscle contraction during the tasks performed.

Conclusions

Exercises performed with external focus instructions were associated with increases in transversus abdominis thickness during exercise execution in women with DRA. While these findings suggest that such instructional strategies may facilitate muscle recruitment during rehabilitation exercises, further controlled studies are required to compare different instructional approaches and to investigate potential motor learning effects.