Awareness of Gynecologists and Mothers about Role of Physical Therapy in the Treatment of Rectus Diastasis Cases

Abstract Background: Diastasis recti are acondition in which the rectus abdominis muscle separates in the mid line at the linea alba. The diastasis is defined as a gap between the recti abdominis muscles of greater than 2.5cm. The separation of the linea alba may occur during pregnancy or in the expulsive stage of labor. Aim of Study: Was to investigate awareness of gynecolo-gists and mothers about role of physical therapy in treating rectus diastasis cases. Subjects and Methods: Group (A) two hundred gynecol-ogists and Group (B) five hundred mothers (from different hospitals in El-Giza Governorate), were participated in this study. They were asked to answer all questions of gynecolo-gist's questionnaire and mother's questionnaire respectively. Gynecologist's questionnaire to evaluate the awareness of gynecologists about the role of physical therapy in treatment of rectus diastasis. Mother's questionnaire to evaluate the awareness of mothers about the role of physical therapy in treatment of rectus diastasis. The questionnaires were devised based on the literature review to elicit evidence about the awareness about the role of physical therapy in treatment of rectus diastasis cases. Result: The results of the study revealed that 60.7% from gynecologists participated in this study reported their appre-ciation of the importance of physical therapy role and modal-ities for treating rectus diastasis and 39.3% had no idea about the role of physical therapy and modalities used in treating rectus diastasis. Also, 27.4% from mothers heard about physical therapy role and modalities used in treating rectus diastasis and 72.6% had no idea about the role of physical therapy and modalities used in treating rectus diastasis. Conclusion: From the previous result, it could be con-cluded that more awareness is needed for both gynecologists and mothers about role and modalities of physical therapy used in treating rectus diastasis cases.