Diastasis recti is extremely common in those who are pregnant and during the postpartum period. It affects 60% of people. It usually resolves itself within eight weeks of delivery. About 40% of those who have diastasis recti still have it by six months postpartum.
For many women with prolonged or severe diastasis recti, it's much more than a cosmetic concern. The weakened abdominal and pelvic muscles can lead to difficulty exercising, lower back pain, incontinence, constipation, and painful intercourse. The tissue can also tear, causing a hernia.
It's never too late to heal diastasis recti and restore core strength and function with exercise. Many women suffer from lingering core issues for years, and even decades, after their pregnancies.
Diastasis recti, more commonly known as abdominal separation, leaves many women looking pregnant months, even years, after delivery. But this condition is more common than you may think.
Can Diastasis Recti Get Worse Over Time? Over time, Diastasis Recti can worsen as the separation increases. This results in the internal abdominal organs, such as the uterus and intestines, having less protection in the front to hold them in place.
The key to healing diastasis recti is rebuilding your core from the inside out. You need to strengthen the transverse abdominis (TVA) muscle, which is the deepest abdominal muscle and can provide support for those muscles that have been stretched.
Weight loss may improve the appearance of the diastasis in patients who are overweight, and exercise may help strengthen the supporting abdominal muscles.
It's never too late to repair your diastasis recti. With the proper exercises, you can fix your ab separation years after you've delivered your last baby.
The most common symptom of diastasis recti is a pooch or bulge in your stomach, especially when you strain or contract your abdominal muscles. Additional symptoms include: lower back pain. poor posture.
If you feel a gap of at least two finger widths between the muscles as they contract, you have a diastasis. A gap as wide as four or five fingers is considered severe. Repeat the procedure below and above your belly button because the separation may be wider in different places.
Difference between diastasis recti and belly fat
You can have diastasis recti with extra belly weight or with a flat tummy. If you are carrying a lot of excess weight and have diastasis recti, weight loss is often suggested. But it usually doesn't fix it.
“Diastasis recti” means your belly sticks out because the space between your left and right belly muscles has widened. You might call it a “pooch.” It's very common among pregnant women. About two-thirds of pregnant women have it.
While a small group of Corpus Christi women with separated abdominal muscles may have the condition naturally resolve itself within a year, or may attempt to speed up that process with physical therapy, a tummy tuck is the only proven medical way to repair diastasis recti.
Problems caused by Diastasis recti
Thickened waist: the abdominal muscles act as an internal corset and, as they weaken and separate, a wider waistline can result.
Any movement, posture, or exertion that causes the ribs to thrust, abs to bulge forward, or puts a downward or bulging pressure on the pelvic floor can exacerbate or induce diastasis recti.
Make sure to avoid certain activities and exercises that may make diastasis recti worse. These include crunches, ab twists, planks, backward bends that stretch the abdominal area, certain yoga poses, or any type of heavy lifting activities that bulge out the stomach.
Rehabilitation of a diastasis will start with gentle exercises: deep abdominal exercises, coordinated breathing and isolated movements. But one should quickly graduate to full body exercise and higher load activities. In particular, the tension encourages the linea alba to heal, so don't be afraid of adding challenge.
Bloating and constipation can both be symptoms of diastasis recti. Your ab muscles hold certain organs in place, like your intestines. When your ab muscles are weakened due to diastasis recti, it doesn't support your muscles as well. This can cause you to look and feel bloated.
There will be some natural shrinking of a diastasis recti in the months post pregnancy, but a waist trainer is unlikely to assist in this process. If you sustain a bad cut, it makes sense to have the two sides stitched together to allow proper healing.
By doing these strength exercises 3 to 4 times a week, Darmanin said you should start to see improvements in the gap between the ab muscles and pain symptoms within 6 to 8 weeks. But if you're not seeing any progress after 4 weeks, consult a licensed physical therapist who has experience in healing diastasis.
Try these diastasis recti-safe cardio exercises instead: Dance cardio (without jumping) Brisk walking. Walking on an incline (outdoors or indoors on a treadmill)
SURGEON PROFILE
Diastasis recti repair is not covered by insurance and cannot be submitted to Medicare. The hernia repair can be submitted for insurance coverage, so you will have part cosmetic, part insurance for billing purposes.
A diastasis recti repair can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $19,000. The actual cost of a diastasis recti repair is dependent upon location, board certified plastic surgeon, and length and involvement of the plastic surgery.
Surgery for diastasis recti can help you feel better physically. It can also help you feel better about the way your abdomen looks. Sometimes, diastasis recti will get better on its own. It might also get a little better if you do exercises to make your core muscles strong.