Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Diastasis Recti?DiagnosisPhysical Therapy TreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Diastasis Recti?
Diagnosis
Physical Therapy Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Diastasis recti—or diastasis rectus abdominis, as it is known in medical terms—is a common condition that develops when the two portions of the outermost abdominal (stomach) muscle separate.
An Overview of Diastasis Recti
Diastasis recti occurs when the midline of the most superficial abdominal muscle—called the rectus abdominis—starts to separate. Widening in this area of connective tissue, which is known as the linea alba, can occur for a variety of reasons, including:
While this condition is frequently painless, it may lead to:
Diagnosing the Condition
In addition, a thorough subjective history is usually taken. During this portion, your healthcare provider will ask you about your pregnancy and labor history, when the symptoms began, and what activities make it better or worse.
In rarer cases, your healthcare provider may also order a computed tomography (CT) scan or an ultrasound to confirm the diastasis recti diagnosis.
How Diastasis Recti Can Be Treated With Physical Therapy
Verywell / Laura Porter
Ways to Prevent Diastasis Recti
Most, if not all, women will experience some degree of diastasis recti as they progress through their pregnancy. In these cases, it may be impossible to completely prevent the condition from occurring. That said, starting a regular core strengthening program early in your pregnancy may help facilitate the resolution of the condition and alleviate some of the symptoms after labor.
In other situations, certain steps can be taken to reduce the chances that diastasis recti occurs, like:
How long will it take to heal diastasis recti with physical therapy?
While individual situations will vary, a review of the evidence supporting the use of PT to treat diastasis recti showed some improvement was noted in as little as six weeks. Other studies, however, reported it took three to six months before significant progress occurred.
What should you wear for physical therapy with diastasis recti?
As part of their evaluation, your physical therapist will typically examine your bare abdominal area to assess the diastasis recti. As a result, your stomach should be easily accessible when going to PT. In addition, it is important to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes that make it easy to exercise during your sessions.
Will your stomach get softer when going to physical therapy for diastasis recti?
A Word From Verywell
Diastasis recti can be an uncomfortable and unpleasant condition to deal with. Not only does it cause a visible deformity in your stomach, but it can also lead to pain during your daily activities. The important thing to remember is that this issue is both extremely common and very treatable! If you are experiencing separation in your stomach muscles, be sure to speak to your doctor or physical therapist about which treatments are right for you.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Benjamin DR, Van de Water ATM, Peiris CL.Effects of exercise on diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle in the antenatal and postnatal periods: a systematic review.Physiotherapy. 2014;100(1):1-8. doi:10.1016/j.physio.2013.08.005American Physical Therapy Association.Physical therapy guide to diastasis rectus abdominis.Kamel DM, Yousif AM.Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and strength recovery of postnatal diastasis recti abdominis muscles.Ann Rehabil Med. 2017;41(3):465-474. doi:10.5535/arm.2017.41.3.465
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Benjamin DR, Van de Water ATM, Peiris CL.Effects of exercise on diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle in the antenatal and postnatal periods: a systematic review.Physiotherapy. 2014;100(1):1-8. doi:10.1016/j.physio.2013.08.005American Physical Therapy Association.Physical therapy guide to diastasis rectus abdominis.Kamel DM, Yousif AM.Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and strength recovery of postnatal diastasis recti abdominis muscles.Ann Rehabil Med. 2017;41(3):465-474. doi:10.5535/arm.2017.41.3.465
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Benjamin DR, Van de Water ATM, Peiris CL.Effects of exercise on diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle in the antenatal and postnatal periods: a systematic review.Physiotherapy. 2014;100(1):1-8. doi:10.1016/j.physio.2013.08.005American Physical Therapy Association.Physical therapy guide to diastasis rectus abdominis.Kamel DM, Yousif AM.Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and strength recovery of postnatal diastasis recti abdominis muscles.Ann Rehabil Med. 2017;41(3):465-474. doi:10.5535/arm.2017.41.3.465
Benjamin DR, Van de Water ATM, Peiris CL.Effects of exercise on diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle in the antenatal and postnatal periods: a systematic review.Physiotherapy. 2014;100(1):1-8. doi:10.1016/j.physio.2013.08.005
American Physical Therapy Association.Physical therapy guide to diastasis rectus abdominis.
Kamel DM, Yousif AM.Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and strength recovery of postnatal diastasis recti abdominis muscles.Ann Rehabil Med. 2017;41(3):465-474. doi:10.5535/arm.2017.41.3.465
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