The Teasibility of TEAS Combined with Core Machine Training for Postpartum Rectus Abdominis Muscle Separation and Low Back Pain

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To analyze the correlation between rectus abdominis separation and low back pain after delivery and the feasibility of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) combined with core training intervention. Methods Selecting 90 postpartum low back pain patients from Huzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital affiliated with Zhejiang University of Chinese Medicine as the research subjects, Pearson correlation analysis was conducted between the degree of rectus abdominis separation and the score of low back pain. They were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, treatment group 1 and treatment group 2 (30 cases in each group). Control group: conventional postpartum natural recovery method. Treatment group 1: on the basis of the control group, core muscle training, once a day, 5 times a week, 4 weeks as a course of treatment, consecutive 1 course of treatment. Treatment group 2: On the basis of treatment group 1, TEAS was used, once a day, 5 times a week, 4 weeks as a course of treatment, one course of treatment. The degree of rectus abdominis muscle separation (IRD), low back pain symptoms (SF-MPQ) and Body Mass Index (BMI) were evaluated before and after treatment, and the changes of these indexes were observed before and after treatment. Results After treatment, the degree of rectus abdominis muscle separation (IRD), low back pain symptoms (SF-MPQ) and Body Mass Index (BMI) were significantly decreased in each group (P<0.05), and the decrease was most significant in the two groups (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the degree of rectus abdominis diastasis and low back pain score （r=0.320, P<0.05）. Conclusion Rectus abdominis diastasis is associated with low back pain. TEAS combined with core muscle training can effectively improve postpartum rectus abdominis muscle separation, reduce low back pain, and reduce the Body Mass Index. It indicated that the therapy could be feasible for clinical.

Key words: Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS), core muscle training, postpartum disease, diastasis recti abdominis, low back pain

CLC Number:

R247.9

XUN Guan-biao, LI Jin-xia, XIE Jing-jun, GUO Xiao-qing, WANG Ya-ling, PAN Zhong-qiang, FU Rui-yang. The Teasibility of TEAS Combined with Core Machine Training for Postpartum Rectus Abdominis Muscle Separation and Low Back Pain[J]. ZHONGHUA YANGSHENG BAOJIAN, 2024, 42(3): 62-66.

References

[1] BENJAMIN D R, FRAWLEY H J, NORA S, et al.Relationship between diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle (DRAM) and musculoskeletal dysfunctions, pain and quality of life: a systematic review[J]. Physiotherapy, 2019,105(1):24-34.
[2] FERNAMDES DA MOTA P G, PASCOAL A G, CARITA A I, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of diastasis recti abdominis from late pregnancy to 6 months postpartum, and relationship with lumbo-pelvic pain[J]. Man Ther, 2015, 20(1):200-205.
[3] BO K, HILDE G, TENNFJORD M K, et al.Pelvic floor muscle function, pelvic floor dysfunction and diastasis recti abdominis: Prospective cohort study[J]. Neurourol Urodyn, 2017,36(3):716-721.
[4] SPERSTAD J B, TENNFJORD M K, HILDE G, et al.Diastasis recti abdominis during pregnancy and 12 months after childbirth: prevalence,risk factors and report of lumbopelvic pain[J]. Br J Sports Med, 2016,50(17):1092-1096.
[5] MOTA P, PASCOAL AG, CARITA AI, et al.Normal width of the inter-recti distance in pregnant and postpartum primipa rous women[J]. Musculoskelet Sci Pract,2018,35(2):34-37.
[6] SPERATAD J B, TENNFJORD M K, HILDE G, et al.Diastasis recti abdominis during pregnancy and 12 months after childbirth: prevalence,risk factors and report of lumbopelvic pain[J]. Br J Sports Med, 2016,50(17):1092-1096.
[7] 竺佳晟,李金辉. 产后腹直肌分离的评估与治疗研究进展[J].中华物理医学与康复杂志,2019,41(10):793-796.
[8] 牛蕾蕾,徐俊,蔡西国,等.产后早期神经肌肉电刺激治疗腹直肌分离的疗效观察[J].中华物理医学与康复杂志,2020,42(12):1078-1080.
[9] OLSSON A, KIWANUKA O, WILHELMSSON S, et al. Surgical repair of diastasis recti abdominis provides long-term improvement of abdominal core function and quality of life: a 3-year follow-up[J]. BJS Open, 2021, 5(5):zrab085.
[10] CARLSTEDT A, BRINGMAN S, EGBERTH M, et al.Management of diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles: recommendations for swedish national guidelines[J]. Scand J Surg, 2021,110(3):452-459.
[11] SZMIT M, KRAJEWSKI R, RUDNICKI J, et al.Application and efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in clinical practice: A systematic review[J]. Adv Clin Exp Med,2023,32(9):1063-1074.
[12] CHIEN L W, LIN M H, CHUNG H Y, et al.Transcutaneous electrical stimulation of acupoints changes body composition and heart rate variability in postmenopausal women with obesity[J]. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2010, 2011(2011):862121.
[13] SAKAI S, HORI E, UMENO K, et al.Specific acupuncture sensation correlates with EEGs and autonomic changes in human subjects[J]. Autonomic Neuroscience2007,133(2):158-169.
[14] HILLS N F, GRAHAM R B, LINDA M L.Comparison of Trunk Muscle Function Between Women With and Without Diastasis Recti Abdominis at 1 Year Postpartum[J]. Physical Therapy, 2018, 98(10):891-901.
[15] LAFRAMBOISE F C, SCHLAFF R A, Baruth M.Postpartum Exercise Intervention Targeting Diastasis Recti Abdominis[J]. Int J Exerc Sci,2021,14(3):400-409.