Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA)

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

DRA refers to a split between the left and right rectus abdominis muscles¹.

A DRA, a split between the two rectus abdominis (RA) muscles to the extent that the linea alba may split under the strain, is common in pre- and postpartum women.

Demographics

This is common in pre and postpartem women¹.

Risk Factors

Predisposing factors for a DRA in women include obesity, a narrow pelvis, multipara, multiple births, excess uterine fluid, large babies, and weak abdominals prior to pregnancy.131 The separation may develop during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, during second stage labor and during the postpartum period.131¹

Presentation

The DRA can vary from 2-20cm¹ in width and up to the entire length of the recti muscles in length¹.

Functional limitations

A DRA can have functional limitations in:

1. Posture¹
2. Trunk stability¹
3. Trunk strength¹

Examination

• Precautions
  • Are there surgical precautions?
• Subjective
  • Aggs
  • Eases
  • Activity/participation limitations
• Torso ROM
  • Trunk ext
  • Flex
  • Rotation
  • SB
• MMTs
  • Ab MMT
• Hip region: Examining the hip region could be relevant since there is a lot of overlapping function between the hips and torso
• Exercises
  • HF stretch

Conservative Treatment

Surgical treatment

References

1.

Dutton M. Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. 5th ed. McGraw Hill Education; 2020.