Diastasis rectus: discomfort and treatment
Many women wonder about a protruding belly after pregnancy and the birth of their child. Whether it’s counting strict calories, dieting or exercising: the belly just doesn’t want to disappear. But why? The “tummy” is not particularly stubborn pounds – but a rectus diastase.
A rectus diastasis (diastasis recti) describes the protrusion of the straight abdominal muscles in the area of the linea alba and is usually between 2 and 10 cm wide and between 12 and 15 cm long. Diastatic rectus can be congenital, but it is usually acquired later in life. Most often women are affected, often rectus diastase appears as a result of pregnancy.
Diastasis rectus is not uncommon in mothers: Studies have shown that approximately 37 percent of first-time mothers and 67 percent of multiple mothers suffer from rectus diastasis during and after pregnancy. TheBritish Journal of Sports Medicinehas also found that almost 60 percent of women struggle with it six weeks after giving birth, 32 percent even use diastase for up to a year.
How does diastasis rectus occur?
When the baby grows in the womb during pregnancy, not only the organs shift: the muscles also have to make room for the new life. Pregnancy hormones cause a loosening of the muscles throughout the body – and so the straight abdominal muscles in particular move to the side. During pregnancy, a rectus diastasis is hardly noticeable. When the baby is born, however, the gap in the muscles becomes visible.
Risk factors for diastasis rectus include: an age of the pregnant woman over 35 years, multiple and multiple pregnancies, a high birth weight of the child, and excessive abdominal exercises during pregnancy (especially after the first trimester). Too much stress on the abdomen during pregnancy can also promote rectus diastasis. For this reason, heavy lifting, for example, is not recommended.
Symptoms of diastasis rectus
A rectus diastasis is most pronounced in the area of the navel and the protrusion of the abdominal muscles can be easily felt with bare hands. Here’s how you can determine them in yourself:
Lie on your back and lift your head slightly. Make sure your knees are adjusted, your feet should be hip-width apart. Now place two fingers above the navel and align the fingertips towards the pubic bone. Exhale relaxed and tense the abdominal muscles. Now you can feel the abdominal wall with your fingertips and detect a possible gap between the two muscle strands.
If you are unsure, your doctor can also detect a rectus diastasis by palpation. An ultrasound or similar examinations are usually not necessary.
Symptoms of diastasis
rectus
The abdominal muscles have an important support function for the body and give it the necessary stability. If the muscles are overstretched, the abdominal wall also becomes more susceptible to injury. The consequences can include (chronic) pain in the lower back and instability in the lumbar region. In addition, those affected are more likely to experience abdominal wall and incisional hernias. Sometimes digestive problems also arise in connection with rectus diastase.
What to do in case of rectus diastasis?
Particularly suitable, however,are exercises against rectus diastase, which train the inner abdominal muscles and the pelvic floor. These exercises are best shown and explainedto you by your midwifeor a physiotherapist so that you can train optimally.