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Combined Effects Of Stability Oriented Breathing Exercises and Kegel's Exercises in Postpartum Women

ConditionsPostpartum ComplicationStrength
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18-40
SponsorRiphah International University

About this trial

The postpartum period often presents challenges such as increased inter-recti distance (diastasis recti), lumbopelvic pain, and reduced core strength. This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the combined effects of stability-oriented breathing exercises and Kegel exercises on inter-recti distance (IRD), lumbopelvic pain, and muscle strength in postpartum women. A total sample size of 66 participants per group was determined with a 10% dropout rate accounted for.

The study will use a non-probability convenience sampling technique. It will be conducted at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital and Sehat Medical complex. Inclusion criteria include women aged 18-40 years, with a history of cesarean sections, an IRD between 3-5 cm. Outcome measures include IRD , pelvic floor muscle strength, lumbopelvic pain (measured using a 10 cm numeric pain scale). Participants will be randomly assigned to either Group A (Kegel-only) or Group B (Kegel + breathing exercises). Both groups will train three times weekly for eight weeks. All data analysis will be performed using SPSS version 27.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

• Age between 18-40 years

Postpartum duration of 42-49 days

Inter-recti distance (IRD) between 3-5 cm

Numeric pain scale score ≤ 6 for pain

Disqualifiers

• Pain during the training period

Patients with any heart or respiratory disease including excessive coughing and sneezing

Patients with any kind of pelvic or abdominal surgery

Significant organ dysfunction or psychiatric illness

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Stability Oriented Breathing Training

    Other intervention

    This included static breathing exercises (transverse, diaphragmatic, back, and pumping breathing) in the first two weeks, followed by resistance band breathing exercises targeting core and transversus abdominis activation in weeks 3 to 4. In the final four weeks, dynamic breathing exercises such as the pelvic clock and hundreds prep will be introduced to promote core stabilization under movement

  • kegels exercises

    Other intervention

    This group will be given kegel exercises in postpartum women. Sessions included a 10-minute warm-up of light jogging, walking, and stretching, followed by Kegel exercises starting with 10 repetitions per movement in the first two weeks and progressing to 15 repetitions in the following two weeks. In the later weeks, load was progressively increased by extending the duration of contractions (from 5 to 8 seconds) and adding dynamic limb movements. A 3-minute rest was provided between each set, and sessions concluded with a 5-minute cool-down

Treatment groups

60 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Stability oriented Breathing trainingExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: kegels exercisesActive comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Numeric pain rating scale

This is the scale having that measures levels of pain from 0 to 11 it describes the intensity or severity of the pian

Time frame
8 weeks
2

Manual muscle testing

Pelvic floor muscle strength will be evaluated using a manual assessment technique. During the assessment, the participant will be instructed to lie in a supine position with knees bent and hands resting at their sides. Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) is a widely used, valid, and reliable method for assessing muscle strength through graded resistance applied by the examiner

Time frame
8 weeks
3

Finger width method

The measurement of diastasis recti abdominis width at the umbilicus using calipers demonstrated good reliability, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.83 (95% CI: 0.76 to 0.87).

Time frame
8 weeks

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

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Riphah International University

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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