Diastasis Recti, Toronto, Etobicoke, Vaughan, ON

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As your uterus continues to expand throughout your pregnancy, your abdominal muscles stretch and lengthen. Your rectus abdominis muscle is particularly affected. This muscle has two sides that run perpendicular from the rib cage to the pubic bone, connected in the middle with connective tissue called the linea alba. In order to allow for your baby to grow, the connective tissue of your linea alba thins and widens, increasing the space between the sides of your rectus abdominis muscle. In many cases, this separation resolves itself after delivery, as your abdominal muscles gradually gain back their strength. However, for some women, this separation may persist and impact their ability to rehab after their pregnancy.

Symptoms of a persistent or worsening rectus diastasis include:

A noticeable bulge or tenting across the midline of your stomach during an activity that challenges your abs or increases abdominal pressure (may be observed during or after pregnancy)
Lower back pain during postpartum exercise or activities
Difficulty regaining abdominal tension after pregnancy or the appearance of a “mummy tummy”
Difficulty with daily activities that require abdominal strength, such as getting up from a lying down position or lifting

Again, some women are at a higher risk of developing persistent diastasis compared to others. Some of these risk factors include:

Being over the age of 35
Being pregnant with multiple babies
Having given birth in the past
Giving birth to a baby with a high birth weight

Sedentary lifestyle prior to pregnancy
Fitness lifestyle that involves crunches, sit-ups, or v-sits
Chronic slouched posture, rounded shoulders
Increased elasticity of connective tissue or ligaments (genetic)

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Read Reviews From Clients Who Found Relief With Physiotherapy

If there was 5+, I would definitely give it 5+!!

– Catherine C.

Friendly, knowledgable, and all-around great service!

– Casey M.

Excellent. Alexandra was the physiotherapist I worked with & I am honestly not sure if I would have gained as much of mobility back as quickly as I did had it not been for her expertise. I would highly recommend her to anyone who asked!

– Crystal M.

I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting results right away, so I was shocked how much better I feel after one appointment with Raj. I have to say, in the last few days since seeing him, my leg has bothered me less than any time over the last five years.

– John M.

I really appreciate the time coming here around October 2019 getting advice and support from the staff. They have a great source of energy and very helpful to try and get me over this hurdle.

– Zach F.

I worked with Dr. Ryan Albert for my chiropractic care and was very satisfied with his approach to my neck pain and his treatment plan. His multifaceted approach with exercises, physical manipulation, and acupuncture allowed me to become pain-free in a few weeks. I would recommend Dr. Albert to everyone, especially those skeptical of chiropractic care for their pain management.

– Mila A.

Wonderful experience throughout the entire appointment and process! Extremely high level of professionalism and I’m grateful to have seen Ali for treatment! Already booked my next session!

– Kyle D.

Over the years, I have seen several chiropractors and, while they were helpful, none have come close to providing the thorough, holistic, and deeply caring treatment I’ve received from Karlyn. Absolutely amazing!

– Daniel N.

Alex is prompt, professional and accommodating to my needs. He’s fun to work with and has always been able to address my concerns

– Tash L.

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Treating Rectus Diastasis:

Treating rectus diastasis involves taking an in-depth look at the muscles of your core and how they work together to create trunk stability and manage intra-abdominal pressure. There is no secret list of “good” exercises and also no list of “bad” exercises when you have a diastasis. Whether a specific exercise is appropriate for you, depends on the situation, your form or technique, and the strategy that you use to do the exercise.

Another important note about diastasis is that recent research is directing us away from just looking at the space between the sides of your abdominal muscles. The degree to which you are able to generate tension through the connective tissue (linea alba) is also very important.

At Foundation Physiotherapy, we assess the abdominal muscles of all of our pregnant or postpartum clients. During pregnancy, our approach will be to monitor and help you modify your activities gradually as your pregnancy progresses, in order to prevent a more significant separation. After pregnancy, the focus is on regaining abdominal muscle tension and reducing the separation. With intervention this can occur much more quickly, allowing you to return to fitness or daily activities with confidence.

If you suspect that you have a diastasis, or have any concerns about how it may impact your pregnancy or recovery, schedule an appointment at Foundation Physiotherapy & Wellness today.