Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Consequences of Diastasis of Rectus Abdominis in Women: A Narrative

Background and Aims Diastasis of Rectus Abdominis (DRA) is defined as the separation of two bulks of the Rectus Abdominis Muscle and is highly related to pregnancy and childbirth. Because of the lack of enough knowledge about DRA, the present study aimed to review the articles on the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of DRA in women. Methods A search strategy using Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus from 2000 to 2021 was developed with keywords related to DRA and its prevalence, risk factors, consequences, and evaluation methods. Results Finally, 28 articles were selected. A literature review showed that the most common site for DRA is above the navel and its prevalence in pregnant women is 30-70%. Increasing maternal age and more deliveries increase the risk of DRA. However, factors, such as type of delivery, multiple births, and lack of exercise have also been suggested as risk factors. Consequences of DRA include changes in the appearance of protruding abdomen and decreased strength of the trunk muscles. Pelvic floor dysfunction and low back pain can also be associated with DRA. Conclusion A significant percentage of women experience DRA after childbirth. This condition can cause problems for the mother, such as pain, deformity, or decreased strength of the trunk muscles.