Abdominal Separation? No Need to Panic

Diastasis Recti (DR) is when the right and left rectus abdominis muscles (the “six-pack”) separate. This happens most commonly during pregnancy when the linea alba (the connective tissue that holds the right and left six-pack abs together) loosens and thins out slightly due to pregnancy hormones. These hormones are doing their job. Some structures are supposed to loosen and stretch out to make space for your growing bundle of joy. However, sometimes the elasticity in our skin and connective tissue doesn’t bounce back as well as we would hope and the separation does not resolve naturally after birth. That’s okay. Physical therapy is here for you :)

Why we want to resolve Diastasis Recti:

We need our core muscles to work in sync with each other in order to move through life without pain or dysfunction. Because DR is the separation of two major core muscles, the separation weakens the ability of the core muscles to stabilize correctively and can eventually lead to pain and dysfunction including:

• Low back pain

• Pubic symphysis pain

• Exaggerated poor posture

How can physical therapy help?

Seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist early on in your pregnancy (or even when you are thinking about becoming pregnant) can make a huge difference. Being educated on proper movement techniques to accommodate your growing belly and to prevent injury can aid in preventing DR from becoming an issue that leads to pain and dysfunction down the road.

If you are postpartum and just now learning you have a DR you can see a PT to help learn what exercises you should be doing to help the separation re-approximate and more importantly, what exercises you should avoid to prevent exacerbating the separation. A pelvic floor physical therapist can also teach you taping and movement techniques that you can employ on your own to help speed up your own recovery.

Who is at a higher risk for developing Diastasis Recti?

Some women develop DR out of nowhere but here are a few factors that may put you at more risk of developing DR during pregnancy:

• You have a petite body frame

• You are having multiples

• You have had DR with previous pregnancies

Don’t worry! The good news is that there are skilled professionals out there who can help you navigate the waters of Diastasis Recti.

Contact Verity Physical Therapy & Wellness today to schedule your first session.