Therapeutic effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with Flexi-bar exercise training on postpartum diastasis recti abdominis
Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES)combined with Flexi-bar exercise training on postpartum diastasis recti abdominis(DRA).Methods A total of 120 postpartum DRA patients were selected and randomly divided into observa-tion group(60 cases)and control group(60 cases).Patients in the control group received NMES treatment,while those in the observation group received NMES treatment combined with Flexi-bar ex-ercise therapy.The therapeutic effects between the two groups were compared after 6 weeks of continu-ously treatment.Results Before treatment,there was no significant difference in the distance between the rectus abdominis muscles at 4 cm above and below the umbilicus,or at the level of the umbilicus between two groups(P>0.05);after treatment,those distances were significantly reduced,and the distance between the rectus abdominis muscles at 4 cm above and below the umbilicus in the observa-tion group were smaller than control group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of upper abdominal circumference,middle abdominal circumference,lower abdominal circumference,rectus abdominis root mean square(RMS),maximum muscle strength of class Ⅰ muscle fibers of pelvic floor,average muscle strength of class Ⅱ muscle fibers of pelvic floor,and 36-item Shot-form Health Status Survey(SF-36)scores before treatment(P>0.05);af-ter treatment,the upper abdominal circumference,middle abdominal circumference and lower ab-dominal circumference of the two groups were decreased than those before treatment,and were lower in the observation group compared to the control group(P<0.05).The rectus abdominis RMS,maximum muscle strength of class Ⅰ muscle fibers of pelvic floor,average muscle strength of classⅡ muscle fibers of pelvic floor,and SF-36 scores of the two groups were increased than those before treatment,and were higher in the observation group compared to the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion NMES combined with Flexi-bar exercise training on postpartum DRA has significant therapeutic effect,which is helpful to enhance the abdominal muscle strength and improve the quali-ty of life of patients.