What The Tummy Team (and our clients) Want MEDICAL Professionals to Know about Diastasis Recti

The Tummy Team realizes there is a gap in the knowledge base of most physicians, surgeons and medical professionals related to Diastasis Recti and we want to help rectify that.  Understanding the impact that diastasis recti has on the bigger issue of functional core weakness is crucial in the treatment of many common ailments of clients.  

Functional core weakness is connected to low back pain, SI instability, upper back pain, collapsed posture, neck pain, constipation, pelvic floor dysfunction and so much more.  Diastasis Recti is a symptom of Functional Core Weakness and can help you diagnose the cause a many of these common but life impacting issues. Diastasis Recti is NOT just a cosmetic issue! 

The Tummy Team specializes in the treatment of diastasis recti and fucntional core weakness in men, women, and children and offers extensive continuing education courses for professionals world wide. We have recently shared a campaign focused on professional education to address the most common misconceptions about diastasis recti and wanted to share that information once again here. 

There is much to know and learn about the diagnosis and treatment of diastasis recti but let’s begin with a few of the most common misunderstandings.

Surgery is Not the Best Solution for Diastasis Recti 

Diastasis recti is a common, underdiagnosed medical condition affecting men and women that is treatable (even in severe cases) with specialized functional core rehabilitation. Recommending surgery is an outdated approach that is rarely needed.  Diastasis recti is always connected to a muscle imbalance, functional core weakness and poor movement strategies that can be treated with a step by step rehab approach with a specialist.  Surgical intervention may put a patch over the weak area but will not retrain the muscle imbalance causing the problem.

Proper Diastasis Recti Diagnosis can Lead to Treatment of Many Common Ailments

Unfortunately, most medical professionals do not know how or when to gently and effectively palpate for a diastasis recti.  It is not a skill often taught correctly in medical, or physical therapy school. Diastasis recti can be contributing to many symptoms affecting the core and pelvic floor so doing a regular check is the first step to getting the correct treatment plan. This area can be very vulnerable so it is important to use only the pads of your fingers, (not the tips) and to only press gently at the navel, above the navel and below the navel while asking the client to barely lift their head until you can feel the borders of the recti abdominis. The Tummy Team has several training videos on self check and professional checks for diastasis.  Don’t underestimate how important this test could be to providing the best possible care to your clients. 

Check out The Tummy Team’s Guide to Checking for Diastasis here:

Diastasis Recti can Lead to an Abdominal Hernia but is Treated Differently

Diastasis Recti is a midline separation of the abdominal wall due to the stretching of connective tissue.  Abdominal Hernia is a protrusion of the abdominal contents through a damaged, torn or weak area of the abdominal wall. Diastasis Recti will often be misdiagnosed as an abdominal hernia with the recommendation of surgery but although diastasis left untreated can lead to a hernia it is NOT a hernia. Knowing how to effectively evaluate for a diastasis and the proper rehab options can save clients from many unnecessary surgeries.  Diastasis Recti (and hernias) always point to functional core weakness and poor core stabilization compensation strategies. When we treat the strength issue and apply that strength to the clients daily movement patterns not only can we rehab the diastasis but we can remove the risk of hernia. 

Diastasis Recti Rehab can Resolve >80% of Pelvic Floor Symptoms

When clients see their doctor for pelvic floor symptoms like urinary or bowel stress or urge incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain and instability or constipation they should be checked for a diastasis.  A high percentage of pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms started as functional core weakness that was left untreated.  At The Tummy Team we have found clinically that over 80% of pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms improve with diastasis rehab, functional core rehab and neutral pelvis training.  Assessing and treating diastasis recti in your pelvic floor clients provides comprehensive care that addresses the source of the dysfunction, not simply the symptoms. Learn more about this connection and the treatment with our Floor of your Core CEU course and our Functional Pelvic Floor Advanced CEU course at pro.thetummyteam.com.

There is so much more to learn about diastasis recti and its impact on the body.  This is no longer a cosmetic postpartum issue without a viable treatment plan.  Diastasis Recti is a sign of a serious medical condition that reveals Functional Core Weakness in women, men and children and can be effectively treated with specialized rehab. 

Click the link below to learn more about the online rehab courses The Tummy Team offers for your clients.

You can also find more information on professional training CEU courses for medical professionals here.

Let us help you fill in this knowledge gap and better treat our clients together. 

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