Recovery of Abdominal Muscle Thickness and Contractile Function in Women after Childbirth

Mako Fukano, Yuka Tsukahara, Seira Takei, Sayaka Nose-Ogura, Tomoyuki Fujii and Suguru Torii
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Mako Fukano: College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Saitama 135-8548, Japan
Yuka Tsukahara: Institute for Integrated Sports Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 108-8345, Japan
Seira Takei: Orthopaedic Surgery, Sensory and Motor System Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 158-8557, Japan
Sayaka Nose-Ogura: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 158-8557, Japan
Tomoyuki Fujii: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 158-8557, Japan
Suguru Torii: Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama 169-8050, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-9

Abstract: Abdominal muscles may be both morphologically and functionally affected by pregnancy. Dysfunction of the muscles can lead to persistent postpartum low back pain. The recovery process of the abdominal muscles following childbirth is not well understood. This study aimed to demonstrate the changes in the thickness and contractile function of abdominal muscles during the first six months postpartum. Nine perinatal and 15 nulliparous females participated. The thicknesses and contraction/relaxation thickness ratios of the rectus abdominis (RA), external abdominal oblique (EO), internal abdominal oblique (IO), and transverse abdominis (TrA) were measured using ultrasound images from 36–39 weeks’ gestation until six months postpartum. The RA, IO, and TrA muscles were thinner in perinatal females than controls at 36–39 weeks of gestation (4.8 vs. 9.47 mm (RA), 5.45 vs. 7.73 mm (IO), 2.56 vs. 3.38 mm (TrA), respectively). The thinner IO muscle persisted for six months after delivery. The decreased TrA thickness ratio persisted until four months post-delivery. Abdominal muscle thickness and contractile function decreased in the postpartum period. Therefore, abdominal muscle exercises might help prevent postpartum symptoms; however, because deterioration of muscle function is significant in the first four months, careful attention should be paid to exercise intensity. The study limitation was a relatively small sample size, thus future studies should involve more participants.

Keywords: postpartum period; abdominal muscles; ultrasound imaging; muscle thickness; thickness ratio (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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