PostpartumNCT07751952
Comparative Effects of Telerehabilitation Versus In-Person Core Stability Training in Postpartum Women
A study testing Telerehabilitation and In-Person in people with Postpartum and Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA), run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is common among postpartum women and can negatively affect abdominal muscle function and body image. Core stability exercises are widely recommended for postpartum rehabilitation; however, access to supervised physiotherapy may be limited. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Postpartum, Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA)
- What is being tested?
- Telerehabilitation and In-Person
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 10 Aug 2026to Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 to 40 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Inclusion Criteria: Participants falling in this category would be recruited into the study.
- 6 weeks to 6 months postpartum
- Multiparous or primiparous
- Diagnosis of diastasis recti (IRD ≥ 2cm)/
- Able to use or operate digital/electronic devices
- With internet access and the ability to participate in remote group sessions.
Exclusion Criteria: Participants fall in this category would be excluded of the study.
- Significant musculoskeletal or systemic comorbidities i.e. diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, Severe psychiatric disorders, Active malignancy.
- Prior major abdominal or pelvic surgery (except cesarean)
- Any Contraindications to exercise.
- Recent/Current pregnancy.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
Lifezone medical and diagnostic center lahore
Lahore, Punjab Province, 0423
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effects Of Telerehabilitation And In-Person Core Stability Training On Inter Recti Distance And Body Image In Postpartum Women.
Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is common among postpartum women and can negatively affect abdominal muscle function and body image. Core stability exercises are widely recommended for postpartum rehabilitation; however, access to supervised physiotherapy may be limited. Tele rehabilitation may improve accessibility while maintaining treatment effectiveness. This randomized controlled trial compares tele rehabilitation-based and in-person supervised core stability exercise programs in postpartum women with diastasis recti. The primary objective is to compare changes in inter-recti distance, while the secondary objective is to compare changes in body image after an 8-week intervention
Read the detailed description
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of tele rehabilitation-based versus in-person supervised core stability exercises in postpartum women diagnosed with diastasis recti abdominis. Fifty-four participants will be randomly allocated to either a tele rehabilitation group or an in-person supervised exercise group. Both groups will receive the same standardized 8-week core stability exercise program consisting of three supervised sessions per week. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after completion of the intervention. Primary outcome will be inter-recti distance measured using a digital nylon caliper. Secondary outcome will be body image measured using the Body Image State Scale (BISS). The findings will help determine whether tele rehabilitation provides comparable clinical outcomes to conventional supervised physiotherapy for postpartum rehabilitation.
- Conditions
- Postpartum, Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA)
- Being tested
- Telerehabilitation, In-Person
- Keywords
- Inter-Recti Distance, Telerehabilitation, Body Image
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
TelerehabilitationOther
Participants were assessed at baseline by a physiotherapist and attended supervised in-clinic follow-up sessions every two weeks to monitor progress and ensure correct exercise performance. Individualized exercise demonstrations were recorded on participants' mobile devices to facilitate home-based practice. The intervention consisted of an 8-week progressive postpartum exercise program beginning at 6 weeks postpartum, including pelvic floor muscle (Kegel) exercises, abdominal bracing, trtransversus abdominis (TrA) activation, and pelvic tilts. Exercise dosage (sets, repetitions, hold time, and fast contractions) was progressively increased each week according to the study protocol to improve pelvic floor muscle strength, core stability, and lumbopelvic control.
In-PersonOther
Participants were assessed at baseline by a physiotherapist and participated in supervised in-person group exercise sessions for 8 weeks, beginning at 6 weeks postpartum. The intervention followed the same progressive exercise protocol as the telerehabilitation group and included pelvic floor muscle (Kegel) exercises, abdominal bracing, transversus abdominis (TrA) activation, and pelvic tilts, with weekly progression in sets, repetitions, hold duration, and fast contractions. The physiotherapist provided real-time supervision, exercise correction, and progression throughout the intervention.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Telerehabilitation Group | Experimental | Participants allocated to this arm will receive a hybrid telerehabilitation-based core stability exercise program over 8 weeks. Baseline assessment will be conducted in a clinical setting prior to intervention. The program consists of three sessions per week (45-60 minutes each) on non-consecutive days, including warm-up, structured core stability exercises, and cool-down. Receives: Other: Telerehabilitation |
| In-Person Exercise Group | Active comparator | Participants allocated to the in-person comparator arm will receive a supervised, clinic-based core stability exercise program for 8 weeks. Baseline assessment will be conducted prior to initiation in a clinical setting. Receives: Other: In-Person |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Digital Nylon Caliper
Digital nylon calipers are recognized as both reliable and valid for measuring inter-recti distance (IRD), Measurements of inter recti distance will be taken at the umbilicus and at standardized points 4.5 cm above and 4.5cm below umbilicus.
Measured: Baseline (pre-Intervention) Post-Intervention (after 8 weeks)
Body Image Scale (BISS)
The Body Image State Scale (15) is a validated, self-reported tool for assessing body image, satisfaction, and emotional responses. BISS scoring uses the mean of the six items (each scored 1-9) with certain items reverse-scored (items 2, 4, and 6), and higher totals signal higher body satisfaction. The scale is tested for reliability and validity in various populations, including postpartum women, with Cronbach's alpha generally reported around 0.82-0.83 for internal consistency.
Measured: Baseline Post-Intervention (after 8 weeks)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Aug 2026
- Study start10 Aug 2026
- Primary completionNov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for PostpartumStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Rida Ijaz, MSPT(WH), Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07751952
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Rida Ijaz
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 22 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects Of Telerehabilitation And In-Person Core Stability Training On Inter Recti Distance And Body Image In Postpartum Women.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07751952
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Rida Ijaz
- Conditions
- Postpartum, Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA)
- Keywords
- Inter-Recti Distance, Telerehabilitation, Body Image
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 7 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is common among postpartum women and can negatively affect abdominal muscle function and body image. Core stability exercises are widely recommended for postpartum rehabilitation; however, access to supervised physiotherapy may be limited. Tele rehabilitation may improve accessibility while maintaining treatment effectiveness. This randomized controlled trial compares tele rehabilitation-based and in-person supervised core stability exercise programs in postpartum women with diastasis recti. The primary objective is to compare changes in inter-recti distance, while the secondary objective is to compare changes in body image after an 8-week intervention
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of tele rehabilitation-based versus in-person supervised core stability exercises in postpartum women diagnosed with diastasis recti abdominis. Fifty-four participants will be randomly allocated to either a tele rehabilitation group or an in-person supervised exercise group. Both groups will receive the same standardized 8-week core stability exercise program consisting of three supervised sessions per week. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after completion of the intervention. Primary outcome will be inter-recti distance measured using a digital nylon caliper. Secondary outcome will be body image measured using the Body Image State Scale (BISS). The findings will help determine whether tele rehabilitation provides comparable clinical outcomes to conventional supervised physiotherapy for postpartum rehabilitation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Telerehabilitation Group | Experimental | Other: TelerehabilitationParticipants allocated to this arm will receive a hybrid telerehabilitation-based core stability exercise program over 8 weeks. Baseline assessment will be conducted in a clinical setting prior to intervention. The program consists of three sessions per week (45-60 minutes each) on non-consecutive days, including warm-up, structured core stability exercises, and cool-down. |
| In-Person Exercise Group | Active comparator | Other: In-PersonParticipants allocated to the in-person comparator arm will receive a supervised, clinic-based core stability exercise program for 8 weeks. Baseline assessment will be conducted prior to initiation in a clinical setting. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| TelerehabilitationParticipants were assessed at baseline by a physiotherapist and attended supervised in-clinic follow-up sessions every two weeks to monitor progress and ensure correct exercise performance. Individualized exercise demonstrations were recorded on participants' mobile devices to facilitate home-based practice. The intervention consisted of an 8-week progressive postpartum exercise program beginning at 6 weeks postpartum, including pelvic floor muscle (Kegel) exercises, abdominal bracing, trtransversus abdominis (TrA) activation, and pelvic tilts. Exercise dosage (sets, repetitions, hold time, and fast contractions) was progressively increased each week according to the study protocol to improve pelvic floor muscle strength, core stability, and lumbopelvic control. | Other | Telerehabilitation Group |
| In-PersonParticipants were assessed at baseline by a physiotherapist and participated in supervised in-person group exercise sessions for 8 weeks, beginning at 6 weeks postpartum. The intervention followed the same progressive exercise protocol as the telerehabilitation group and included pelvic floor muscle (Kegel) exercises, abdominal bracing, transversus abdominis (TrA) activation, and pelvic tilts, with weekly progression in sets, repetitions, hold duration, and fast contractions. The physiotherapist provided real-time supervision, exercise correction, and progression throughout the intervention. | Other | In-Person Exercise Group |
Primary outcome
Digital Nylon Caliper
Time frame: Baseline (pre-Intervention) Post-Intervention (after 8 weeks)
Digital nylon calipers are recognized as both reliable and valid for measuring inter-recti distance (IRD), Measurements of inter recti distance will be taken at the umbilicus and at standardized points 4.5 cm above and 4.5cm below umbilicus.
Body Image Scale (BISS)
Time frame: Baseline Post-Intervention (after 8 weeks)
The Body Image State Scale (15) is a validated, self-reported tool for assessing body image, satisfaction, and emotional responses. BISS scoring uses the mean of the six items (each scored 1-9) with certain items reverse-scored (items 2, 4, and 6), and higher totals signal higher body satisfaction. The scale is tested for reliability and validity in various populations, including postpartum women, with Cronbach's alpha generally reported around 0.82-0.83 for internal consistency.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Rida Ijaz, MSPT(WH) principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Telerehabilitation and In-Person in people with Postpartum and Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA), 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?
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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Sep 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Digital Nylon Caliper (time frame: Baseline (pre-Intervention) Post-Intervention (after 8 weeks)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 22 Sep 2026.