How often have you worried about the visible bulge in the centre of the stomach? Well, many people do not realize that the bulge is the result of a common condition known as Diastasis recti or diastasis rectus abdominis. It develops when the midline of the superficial abdominal muscles starts separating. Physiotherapy plays an integral role in the treatment of this condition. You need no medications or surgeries or even a hardcore workout regime to get rid of it. So, let’s dig a bit deeper into what diastasis recti are and how physical therapy can help.
What exactly is Diastasis Recti?
The outermost abdominal muscles, also known as rectus abdominis, support your organs and back. The separation of these muscles causes Diastasis Recti, which in turn weakens the muscles and causes pain and discomfort. The connective tissue in this region (also known as linea alba) widens and stretches sideways making your core more susceptible to injuries.
What causes the condition?
The constant stretching of the connective tissue that joins the outermost abdominal muscles mainly causes this condition. The abnormal movements in the forward and sideways direction of the tissue lead to pain in this region.
Overuse of abdominal muscles can cause diastasis recti. Pregnancy is one of the most common causes. In fact, about 66% to 100% of women go through this problem, especially in their third trimester.
Stomach obesity can also lead to the problem. You may experience the condition if you have had rapid changes in your body weight.
How does physiotherapy help diagnose the condition?
As mentioned earlier, many people do not realize they have diastasis recti. But, physiotherapy has made it easy for you to diagnose the condition and get the proper treatment.
The physiotherapist notes down your symptoms and medical history. They learn when your symptoms began and which activities made them worse in the first appointment.
Then they check for any protrusion or bulge on your stomach. They determine the location and severity of the muscle separation to prepare an effective treatment plan specific to your problem.
How physical therapy helps in Diastasis Recti treatment?
Diastasis recti occur due to the widening of the connective tissues surrounding the abdominal muscles. So, physical therapy brings you relief by toning and flattening the abdominal wall and improving your overall pelvic alignment.
Three ways physiotherapy works wonders in treating diastasis recti
Education– The first step to treating this problem is understanding what causes the problem and makes it worse in the first place. During physical therapy sessions, you will learn which movements to avoid to prevent stress on abdominal muscles.
Core stretching- Strengthening your core abdominal muscles can help you manage the condition. The therapist may suggest exercises to work on your diaphragm, hip and lower back muscles.
Bracing– Your physical therapist can guide you through the garments that you should wear while doing daily life activities without harming the damaged muscles.
The physiotherapist prescribes specific exercises that can shorten the fibres of damaged muscles and restore their optimal dynamic stability. The goal of treatments is to facilitate the function between the external and internal layers of the abdominal wall.
Final Thoughts,
Diastasis recti is a common problem, whether you are a man, woman, senior citizen or infant. Physiotherapy helps you manage the condition without having to rely on medications or surgeries. The therapist recommends specific exercises to tone your pelvic alignment and relax the abdominal muscles. If you are in Brampton and looking for a physical therapist, get in touch with Physiotherapy First. We will help you recover and prevent the reoccurrence of this problem.
