Radiofrequency diathermy for postpartum abdominal muscle separation
Acute Effects of Radiofrequency Diathermy in Postpartum Women With Diastasis Abdominis
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
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 48 (estimated) |
| Ages | 20 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | University of Valencia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Valencia, Valencia) |
| Trial ID | NCT07419399 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
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.
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 performed: Radiofrequency diathermy has shown tissue-modulating effects in other musculoskeletal settings, but its acute effects specifically on postpartum rectus diastasis are largely untested.
Eligibility criteria
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 this trial is running
Valencia, Valencia
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.