Acute effect of Sit-up versus Curl-up on the interrecti distance: A cross-sectional study in parous women

Abstract

Background: A weakened pelvic floor is less efficient counteracting the increased intra-abdominal pressure during exercise. While intra-abdominal pressure is higher in Sit-up than in Curl-up, Sit-up continues to be practiced in fitness classes. This raises the question of whether it has advantages over the Curl-up for instance in reducing the interrecti distance (IRD), a goal searched by many parous women. IRD has been shown to be acutely reduced during Curl-up.

Objectives: To determine if the IRD is more reduced during Sit-up than during Curl-up.

Methods: Parous women with an IRD greater than 15mm were included in the study. IRD was measured at 20mm above umbilicus with a caliper in Head-lift, Curl-up, Sit-up and Drawing-in+Curl-up. IRD was compared across the four conditions using a one-way Anova test with repeated measures and Bonferroni correction between pairwise comparisons.

Results: Nineteen parous women aged between 28 and 54 participated in this study. Compared to Head-lift (20.3±3.9mm), the IRD was significantly decreased during the Curl-up (12.2±3.0mm) and the Sit-up (12.1±3.6mm), but not during the Drawing-in+Curl-up (18.4±4.9mm). There was no significant difference in IRD between Curl-up and Sit-up.

Conclusion: IRD was similarly acutely reduced during Curl-up and Sit-up. The long-term effect of Curl-up on the IRD and on the pelvic floor muscles needs to be studied.

Impact: To reduce IRD in parous women Curl-up rather than Sit-up should be practiced. Fitness coaches should consider this information especially with classes attended by parous women, many of whom complain about pelvic floor disorders.

Level of evidence: EL05.

Keywords: Abdominal muscles; Diastasis; Diastasis, Muscle; Exercices; Exercise movement techniques; Femmes ayant accouché; Muscles abdominaux; Parous women; Physical fitness; Sport d’entretien.