Diastasis Recti Treatment

Lets start with what that means: Diastasis recti occurs when the linea alba, a band of tissue that runs down the center of the abdomen and connects the rectus abdominis muscles, widens.

o   This separation can happen during pregnancy as the uterus grows and stretches the abdominal muscles.

o   Diastasis recti can also occur in men due to factors like weight fluctuations, incorrect exercise techniques, or other conditions.

This can heal 6-12 wks post partum or can last decades without treatment. The unhealing diastasis recti appears to be due to faulty breath, pressure habits that are stressing the area so it doesn’t close fully.

How can you tell if you have one? If Palpate belly button and then move fingertips immediately above and below and feel for any lack of firmness. Also if lying down keep fingertips there and lift head up will feel it become more obvious as your abdomen protrudes upward.

At Empower, we address this a few ways, teaching the new habit of ribs stacked over pelvis to allow a deeper breath and to work on facilitating a full 360 breath on inhale and exhale instead of only chest or belly breathing.

Then we progress to strengthening the deep core while not stressing the anterior line of abdominals.

Everyone is unique and usually have some habitual not ideal motor plans throughout the day such as overuse of hip flexors or back extensors which make recruiting correct core muscles difficult. However once taught and mindful this is a very treatable condition.