Diastasis

A common misconception is that you have to stop all ab and core exercises if you have diastasis and stick only to “safe” ones. This belief isn’t based on any evidence. The truth is, every person with diastasis requires an individualized assessment to determine which exercises are appropriate. With proper rehab and retraining of the abdominals, many people can safely perform a wide range of core exercises.

When assessing what exercises are right for you, we examine how your abdominals respond during the exercise. We look at the separation distance between the rectus abdominis muscles, the tension created by the muscles underneath, and the “end-feel” of the tissue. We want to avoid exercises if the tissue feels hard, indicating organs, but soft tissue indicates it’s safe to proceed.

Yes! Diastasis can heal with physical therapy. A normal separation is about 1 finger width. We take a whole-body approach to treat diastasis, which includes assessing pelvic floor function, addressing abdominal restrictions and weakness, checking for gut health issues related to bloating, and treating scar tissue, among other factors. By optimizing all these areas, we can strengthen the abdominal muscles and stabilize the core to support healing.

Read this review from one of our patients with DRA:

That’s entirely up to you! In most cases, surgery isn’t necessary. Many women find that physical therapy is enough to effectively heal their diastasis. In more severe cases, some women choose to have surgery, but they often benefit from doing physical therapy both before and after the procedure to support the best outcomes.

Yes! Regardless of how many fingers wide your diastasis is, pelvic floor therapy can help. The wider the separation, the more time it might take, but with the right approach, you’ll gain the tools to support healing and prevent it from getting worse. We’re here to guide you every step of the way!