Radiofrequency diathermy for postpartum abdominal muscle separation
Official title: Acute Effects of Radiofrequency Diathermy in Postpartum Women With Diastasis Abdominis
Run by University of Valencia · NCT07419399 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This test will see if a single session of radiofrequency diathermy changes pain sensitivity and tissue elasticity in postpartum women with or without rectus abdominis diastasis.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 20 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 48 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Valencia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Valencia, Valencia) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 30, 2026 |
| Main results expected | March 30, 2029 |
| Study ends | March 30, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | June 25, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07419399 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are postpartum women aged 20–45, 6 months to 1 year after delivery, with BMI 18.5–29.9 kg/m2, either with pathological RAD (inter-rectus distance >2.2 cm) or without RAD, and without prior abdominal surgery or chronic pain.
✕Probably not a fit
Women with cesarean deliveries, prior abdominal wall surgery, chronic pain diagnoses, or those outside the specified age, BMI, or postpartum windows are not eligible and are unlikely to benefit from this protocol's findings.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a randomized, sham-controlled experiment enrolling 48 postpartum women, half with pathological rectus abdominis diastasis (RAD) and half without. Participants will be randomly assigned within their group to receive a single session of active radiofrequency diathermy (RFD) or a sham RFD, with measurements taken at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 20 minutes later. Primary measures are pressure pain threshold, superficial thermal sensitivity, and tissue elasticity to capture acute tissue responses. The trial is single-center and designed to detect immediate physiological differences between treated and sham groups across RAD status.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the trial could show that RFD produces immediate, measurable changes in tissue sensitivity and elasticity that might guide non-surgical postpartum care.
How similar studies have gone: Radiofrequency diathermy has shown tissue-modulating effects in other musculoskeletal settings, but its acute effects specifically on postpartum rectus diastasis are largely untested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 20 and 45 years old. * BMI between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/mw. * Postpartum period between 6 months and 1 year Additionally, in the group of women with RAD, pathological RAD will be defined as an inter-rectus distance greater than 2.2 cm (measured 3 cm above the navel), according to the criteria of Beer et al. (2009) Exclusion Criteria: * Previous surgeries involving the abdominal wall. * Cesarean deliveries. * Women diagnosed with chronic pain
Where it's running
-
Faculty of Physiotherapy. University of Valencia
Valencia, Valencia, Spain Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Marta Inglés de la Torre, PHD
- Email: marta.ingles@uv.es
- Phone: 686320380
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.