Efeito da técnica Low Pressure Fitness (LPF)® sobre a diástase do reto abdominal em mulheres no pós-parto: resultados preliminares de um ensaio clínico randomizado cego

Abstract

Introduction: Diastasis of the Rectus Abdominis Muscle (DRAM) is an excessive separation between the bellies of the rectus abdominis muscle. Persistent DRAM, aside from being an aesthetic concern, has negative effects on functionality, trunk endurance, and quality of life in postpartum women. Abdominal exercise is generally recommended as an important physiotherapeutic intervention for women with DRAM, and one alternative treatment is the Low Pressure Fitness (LPF®) technique. Objectives: To describe the preliminary results of the effects of LPF® on abdominal diastasis, pelvic floor muscle function, trunk endurance, pain, functionality, quality of life, perception of global effect, and expectations in postpartum women with DRAM undergoing treatment. Methods: This is a descriptive study of a randomized, controlled, blinded clinical trial with concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis, conducted from January to July 2024. Women with DRAM, starting at 12 weeks postpartum and presenting a rectus abdominis separation >2cm and ≥2 finger-widths above, below, or at the navel, were recruited. After giving consent, the women were randomly allocated into two groups: control (CG, kinesitherapy) and experimental (EG, Low Pressure Fitness (LPF®)). All participants underwent an 8-week intervention, with assessments at baseline, after 8 sessions, and after 16 sessions. Both groups attended in-person sessions twice a week, lasting 30 to 45 minutes, and were instructed to perform daily home exercises. The CG (n=5) performed a set of kinesitherapy exercises including abdominal crunch, posterior pelvic tilt, Russian twist, and Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT), while the EG (n=5) performed exercises from the LPF® method with posture variations. SPSS® software (version 21.0) was used for data analysis. To describe the results of this preliminary study, descriptive statistical tests were used (mean, standard deviation, absolute and relative frequencies). Confidence intervals of 95% (CI95%) were presented. Results: Ten women were included in the study, with a mean age of 31.00±5.35 years (age range of 25 to 39 years). The mean postpartum period, in weeks, was 30.80±13.21 for the experimental group (EG) and 31.40±6.91 for the control group (CG). In absolute terms, both groups showed a decrease in the average diastasis after 8 weeks of intervention. Conclusion: The preliminary results of this study suggest that both Low Pressure Fitness (LPF®) and conventional kinesiotherapy appear to promote reductions in abdominal diastasis in postpartum women after eight weeks of intervention. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and inferential analyses are needed to corroborate or refute the findings of this preliminary study.