# Transcutaneous Radiofrequency Plus Therapeutic Exercise for the Treatment of Diastasis Recti Abdominis After a Twin Pregnancy: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A 29-year-old woman with severe abdominal muscle separation after a twin pregnancy showed significant improvement using a combination of radiofrequency therapy and targeted exercises.

## Contribution

This is the first case report exploring transcutaneous radiofrequency diathermy as a treatment for diastasis recti abdominis.

## Key findings

- IRD at rest decreased from 6.5 cm to 2.1 cm after TRD intervention.
- Physical function improved as measured by the PF-10 scale.
- The distortion index of the linea alba improved by 50%.

## Abstract

Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is a common postpartum condition characterized by separation of the rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba (LA). This condition can lead to significant physical and functional impairment. Conventional physiotherapy interventions, such as targeted abdominal exercises, have been reported to be effective in improving abdominal function. However, the transcutaneous radiofrequency diathermy (TRD) in the treatment of DRA has not yet been explored in this pathology.

This case study reports on the treatment of a 29-year-old woman with a severe supraumbilical DRA (6.5 cm at rest) following a twin pregnancy. The intervention combined conventional physiotherapy and TRD over 13 weeks. The therapeutic exercise program included hypopressive exercises and targeted abdominal muscle strengthening, while the TRD aimed to enhance tissue regeneration and reduce the intra-rectus distance (IRD). The outcomes were the IRD, the distortion index (DI), the involuntary pre-activation of transversus abdominis, and the Physical Function Scale (PF-10).

A significant reduction in the IRD was observed after eight weeks of physiotherapy, at rest (-38%), supraumbilical contraction (-33%) and infraumbilical contraction (-38%). At the end of the TRD intervention, the IRD at rest decreased from 6.5 cm to 2.1 cm (-47.5%), supraumbilical contraction (-64%) and infraumbilical contraction (-64.25%). The distortion index of the LA improved by 50%. Additionally, the patient's physical function, measured using the PF-10 scale, clinically improved.

This case study suggests that conservative physiotherapy based on therapeutic exercises and TRD may be an effective treatment for DRA, especially in severe cases following twin pregnancies. However, larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and to establish TRD as a standard adjunctive therapy in the management of DRA.