Comparative effectiveness of rehabilitation therapies for diastasis recti abdominis: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

If you've had a baby and noticed a gap or bulge along the center of your abdomen, you may have a condition called diastasis recti abdominis (DRA). This happens when the two sides of your abdominal muscles separate, often during pregnancy. It can cause back pain, weakness, and affect how your core functions. Many women wonder which treatment will help them heal most effectively.

A new research review published in the International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics looked at 17 studies involving 783 patients to compare 11 different rehabilitation approaches. Researchers used an advanced statistical method called Bayesian network meta-analysis to rank which treatments worked best at reducing the gap between the abdominal muscles — measured at three points: above, at, and below the belly button.

The results were encouraging for anyone exploring their options. Above the belly button, a technique called suspension training showed the strongest results. At the belly button, Pilates came out on top. Below the belly button, combining an abdominal support garment with core stability exercises proved most effective.

Importantly for acupuncture patients, electroacupuncture was among the 11 therapies included in this comparison, meaning researchers recognized it as a legitimate rehabilitation option for DRA. While it did not rank highest in this particular analysis, its inclusion reflects growing interest in how acupuncture-based therapies can support postpartum recovery and core rehabilitation.

The researchers noted that future studies should use standardized measurement techniques and longer follow-up periods to give clearer guidance. In the meantime, this review suggests that combining therapies — such as physical support with targeted exercise — may offer the best outcomes.

If you are dealing with diastasis recti, speak with a licensed acupuncturist or integrative health provider to explore a personalized treatment plan.

This systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis evaluated 11 rehabilitation interventions for diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) across 17 RCTs involving 783 patients. Outcomes were stratified by inter-rectus distance (IRD) measured supra-umbilically, at the umbilicus, and infra-umbilically, with SUCRA rankings used to determine comparative effectiveness. Electroacupuncture was included as one of the 11 interventions assessed. Key findings indicate that suspension training (SUCRA 84.7%) was optimal supra-umbilically, Pilates (SUCRA 93.5%) at the umbilicus, and abdominal support combined with core stability exercise (SUCRA 82.9%) infra-umbilically. The ABD_support_cse combination demonstrated a clinically meaningful advantage over abdominal support alone infra-umbilically (SMD: 1.45; 95% CrI: 0.16–2.74). Quality assessment utilized RoB 2 criteria. Clinical takeaway: multimodal approaches yield superior IRD reduction; electroacupuncture warrants further high-quality investigation as an adjunct in postpartum DRA rehabilitation protocols.