Predictors of disability attributed to symptoms of increased interrecti distance in women after childbirth : an observational study

• OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate how various physical and psychological factors are linked to disability attributed to symptoms from increased interrecti distance (IRD) in women after childbirth.METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, 141 women with an IRD of at least 2 finger widths and whose youngest child was between the ages of 1 and 8 years participated. A multilinear regression model was performed with disability as the outcome variable and fear-avoidance beliefs, emotional distress, body mass index, lumbopelvic pain, IRD, and physical activity level as predictor variables.RESULTS: The regression model accounted for 60% (R2 = 0.604, adjusted R2 = 0.586) of the variance in disability (F6,132 = 33.5). The 2 strongest predictors were lumbopelvic pain with a regression coefficient of 1.4 (95% CI = 1.017 to 1.877) and fear avoidance with a regression coefficient of 0.421 (95% CI = 0.287 to 0.555). The actual IRD, with a regression coefficient of -0.133 (95% CI = -1.154 to 0.888), did not contribute significantly to the variation in disability.CONCLUSION: Disability attributed to symptoms from an increased IRD is explained primarily by the level of lumbopelvic pain but also by the degree of fear-avoidance beliefs and emotional distress.IMPACT: This study highlights pain intensity and psychological factors as crucial factors for understanding disability attributed to increased IRD.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Avoidance behavior

emotional distress

muscle diastasis

ultrasonography

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)