Diastasis Recti & Functional Core Weakness
Did you just learn about Diastasis Recti and want answers?
You are in the right place. The Tummy Team specializes in the treatment of Diastasis Recti in men, women and children.
We have effective comprehensive online rehab courses for everyone. You can fix this in the privacy of your own home on your own schedule.
First, let’s define Diastasis Recti
Diastasis Recti (DR): a separation of the abdominal muscles caused by excessive stretching of the connective tissue that runs down the midline of the abdominal wall.
What does it look/feel like?
Here’s how clients describe what it feels like to live with Diastasis Recti:
- you have a gaping hole in your tummy
- a bulging, tenting, or pouchy tummy
- a trench down the midline of your belly that sometimes bulges out when doing a sit up or even coughing
- a football like bulge with any bending or bracing of your tummy
- looking pregnant when you are no longer (or have never been) pregnant
Second, Diastasis Recti is actually a symptom of a bigger issue Functional Core Weakness.
Functional Core Weakness (FCW): The inability of the muscles of the core to effectively function and support the body for everyday physical demands without pain or dysfunction.
Consider if you are also experiencing some of these symptoms of Functional Core Weakness?
- collapsed posture – even if you want to stand or sit tall, you cannot maintain it
- thin, weak, and deflated abdominal muscles
- back pain (low, mid and even upper back)
- weak and disconnected feeling from your core and your body
- feeling like your back or hip could “go out” at any moment (instability)
- sluggish intestinal function- constipation or difficulty fully emptying during bowel movement.
- weak pelvic floor function- stress incontinence, prolapse, prostate issues, pelvic pain
- chronic pelvic instability in the pubic bone or SI joint
- sciatica, rib pain or diaphragm pain
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, take some time to take our short quiz to determine how severe your core issues are.
So how did this happen?
Diastasis Recti can happen to men and women, regardless of age, weight or fitness level. When our internal core muscles are weak, deflated and inactive, our body is forced to live in collapsed postures or to use bracing or bearing down to stabilize our body. Consistent forward forceful pressure on the abdominal wall causes excessive stretching to the connective tissue that runs right down the middle. Typically this damage occurs over time from pushing out on on the tummy with chronic poor postures, traditional abdominal exercises like crunches, sit-ups or planks, chronic constipation, and habitual bracing or bearing down. Often the bracing and protective posturing of the abdominal wall is also connected to past core trauma and resulting emotional and physical disconnect.
Take a moment to check yourself for a diastasis.
How is it all connected?
Your core muscles are support your organs, stabilize your spine, align your pelvis and connect your upper body and lower body. A strong core helps with postures, intestinal tract function, respiratory function, reproductive function and pain free full movement of the arms and legs. When the core is weak and inactive all of these areas are compromised. Diastasis Recti is a stretched separation of the abdominal wall that keeps the core from functioning optimally and can allow your organs to push forward, contributing to a bulging tummy and increase the risk of a hernia. In addition, this overall Functional Core Weakness also contributes to digestive tract issues, menstrual cycle issues, prostate issues and pelvic floor problems for men and women. As you can imagine, pregnant and postpartum women tend to be more susceptible to developing Diastasis Recti due to the extreme stretching of the abdominal wall combined with the effect of relaxin hormones on the connective tissue that occurs during pregnancy. (See more about pregnancy and Diastasis Recti here).
Keep in mind, you do not have to have a severe Diastasis to have significant Functional Core Weakness.
How do we fix this?
No, surgery is not the only answer or even the best answer!
Diastasis Recti and Functional core weakness are both very treatable conditions. The Tummy Team specializes in a unique approach to Functional Core Rehabilitation. We help you systematically rebuild the internal core muscles while retraining your postural alignment and creating opportunities to use your core muscles effectively in all of your daily life movements. We offer effective online treatment options at a reasonable price that you can do from the privacy of your own home on your own schedule.
