Abdominal separation – diastasis

Abdominal separation – diastasis occurs when the two long parallel muscles of the stomach separate from each other due to overstretching. A gap greater than 2 finger widths (≈2cm) between the two muscles is considered a diastasis. Abdominal separation is very common during and after pregnancy. After delivery, the most noticeable symptom is a bulge or “pooch” in the belly area. Even though you’re no longer pregnant, it might look like you still are. Abdominal separation is generally not painful; however, it can lead to back, hip and pelvic pain. It also compromises the support for your organs and contributes to pelvic dysfunction and urinary stress incontinence.

Physiotherapist can treat diastasis, regardless of the age or how long it has been since childbirth. The key to fixing diastasis lies in therapeutic activation of the deepest abdominal muscle, and proper coordination with the diaphragm and the pelvic floor.