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Diastasis RectiNCT07520409

Effects of Drawing in Maneuver and Resisted Ankle Dorsiflexion in Postpartum Diastasis Recti

A study testing DRAWING IN MANEUVER and RESISTED ANKLE DORSIFLEXION in people with Diastasis Recti, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The aim of this study is to compare the combine effects of drawing in maneuver and resisted ankle dorsiflexion on pain, inter-recti distance, strength and quality of life in postpartum diastasis recti. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 20 to 45 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Diastasis Recti
What is being tested?
DRAWING IN MANEUVER and RESISTED ANKLE DORSIFLEXION
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
42 participants
Where
1 sitePakistan
Study dates
1 Oct 2025to 1 Aug 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 20 to 45 years
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Postpartum females (6 weeks to 6 months postpartum)
  • Diagnosed with diastasis recti (IRD ≥ 2.5 cm)
  • Age 20-45 years
  • Mode of delivery
  • Multiparity

Who cannot join

  • History of abdominal surgery
  • Pelvic organ prolapses
  • Neurological or orthopedic disorders
  • Presence of low back pain, hernia, or musculoskeletal disorders
  • Participation in any other abdominal rehabilitation program in the last 3 months

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Pakistan1 site

  • Al Zahra Hospital

    Chak One Hundred Seventy-five Nine Left, Punjab Province, 52250

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

Official title: Combine Effects of Drawing in Maneuver and Resisted Ankle Dorsiflexion on Pain, Inter-recti Distance, Strength and Quality of Life in Postpartum Diastasis Recti

The aim of this study is to compare the combine effects of drawing in maneuver and resisted ankle dorsiflexion on pain, inter-recti distance, strength and quality of life in postpartum diastasis recti.

Read the detailed description

Randomized controlled research will assess how drawing-in maneuver and resisted ankle dorsiflexion together affect postpartum women with diastasis recti in terms of pain, inter-recti distance, abdominal strength, and quality of life. 20-40 years females from 6 weeks to 6 months to post-partum period will be included in this study and the data will be collected from Al Zahra Hospital, Ali medical center and Sharif Medical Complex. Two groups of 42 individuals will be randomly assigned to either the drawing-in maneuver alone (Group A, n = 21) or a combination of the drawing-in technique and resisted ankle dorsiflexion (Group B, n = 21). For six weeks, the intervention will be administered twice a week to both groups. Manual muscle testing for strength, caliper measurement for IRD, the SF-36 questionnaire for quality of life and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain will all be used in baseline and post-treatment evaluations. The data will be analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.

Conditions
Diastasis Recti
Being tested
DRAWING IN MANEUVER, RESISTED ANKLE DORSIFLEXION
Keywords
ankle, Postpartum Period, Muscle Strength, Quality of Life, Resistance training

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • DRAWING IN MANEUVEROther

    Each contraction will be held for 10 seconds and repeated 10 times per session. This exercise will be performed two to three times per week for six weeks

  • RESISTED ANKLE DORSIFLEXIONOther

    They will dorsiflex the ankle, pulling the toes toward the shin against the resistance, hold for 5-10 seconds, and then return to the starting position. Each leg will complete three sets of 10 repetitions, performed two to three times weekly

Study groups in NCT07520409
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
DRAWING IN MANEUVER & RESISTED ANKLE DORSIFLEXIONExperimentalDrawing-In Maneuver (DIM), also known as the abdominal drawing-in maneuver, which is widely recognized as a foundational exercise for deep core activation
Receives: Other: DRAWING IN MANEUVER; Other: RESISTED ANKLE DORSIFLEXION
DRAWING IN MANEUVERActive comparatorResisted Ankle Dorsiflexion contributes to core muscle engagement through kinetic chain activation.
Receives: Other: DRAWING IN MANEUVER

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Numeric Pain Rating Scale

    This scale examines the subjective degree of pain severity is estimated using a horizontal line on a standardized self-reporting scale. The pain level is represented by an 11-point numerical scale. There is no pain (0), mild pain (1-2-3), moderate pain (4-5-6), and severe pain (7-8-9-10).

    Measured: 6th week

  2. Caliper Measurement

    To assess inter-recti distance at reference points (above, at, and below the umbilicus) the caliper will be used. To measure inter-recti distance 4.5 cm above and below the umbilicus (indicated with skin markings), the inside jaws of the calipers are placed between the medial edges of the right and left rectus abdominis muscles as palpated by the examiner

    Measured: 6th week

  3. Manual Muscle Testing (MMT)

    . Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) is a widely used clinical method to evaluate the strength of individual muscles or muscle groups on a standardized 0 to 5 scale. A grade of 0 indicates no visible or palpable muscle contraction, while 1 (Trace) denotes a slight muscle flicker without any movement. A grade 2 (Poor) means the muscle can complete full range of motion only when gravity is eliminated. Grade 3 (Fair) signifies the ability to move the joint through the full range of motion against gravity, but not against any resistance. Grade 4 (Good) indicates that the muscle can perform against moderate resistance, and grade 5 (Normal) represents full strength with the ability to resist maximal manual pressure

    Measured: 6th week

  4. SF-36

    The SF-36 (Short Form-36 Health Survey) is a validated and reliable questionnaire used to assess health-related quality of life across eight domains, including physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, and mental health. Each domain is scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better quality of life

    Measured: 6th week

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted9 Apr 2026
  2. Study start1 Oct 2025
  3. Primary completion1 Jul 2026
  4. Study completion1 Aug 2026

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
42 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07520409
Sponsor's protocol ID
REC/RCR&AHS/25/0504
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
2 Apr 2026
Last updated
9 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Cavalli M, Aiolfi A, Bruni PG, Manfredini L, Lombardo F, Bonfanti MT, Bona D, Campanelli G. Prevalence and risk factors for diastasis recti abdominis: a review and proposal of a new anatomical variation. Hernia. 2021 Aug;25(4):883-890. doi: 10.1007/s10029-021-02468-8. Epub 2021 Aug 6.

    PubMed 34363190

  • Berg-Poppe P, Hauer M, Jones C, Munger M, Wethor C. Use of exercise in the management of postpartum diastasis recti: a systematic review. The Journal of Women's & Pelvic Health Physical Therapy. 2022;46(1):35-47.

  • Tung RC, Towfigh S. Diagnostic techniques for diastasis recti. Hernia. 2021 Aug;25(4):915-919. doi: 10.1007/s10029-021-02469-7. Epub 2021 Jul 27.

    PubMed 34313855

  • Beamish NF, Davenport MH, Ali MU, Gervais MJ, Sjwed TN, Bains G, Sivak A, Deering RE, Ruchat SM. Impact of postpartum exercise on pelvic floor disorders and diastasis recti abdominis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2025 Mar 31;59(8):562-575. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108619.

    PubMed 39694630

  • Laframboise FC, Schlaff RA, Baruth M. Postpartum Exercise Intervention Targeting Diastasis Recti Abdominis. Int J Exerc Sci. 2021 Apr 1;14(3):400-409. doi: 10.70252/GARZ3559. eCollection 2021.

    PubMed 34055160

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing DRAWING IN MANEUVER and RESISTED ANKLE DORSIFLEXION in people with Diastasis Recti, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Numeric Pain Rating Scale (time frame: 6th week). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07520409, which also lists 5 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 9 Oct 2026.

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