Abdominal Diastasis - Post Partum Problems - Womens Health - What We Treat

/ What we treat / Womens health / Post partum problems / Abdominal diastasis /

Pregnancy related abdominal diastasis occurs when the linea alba (connective tissue) holding the two straps of rectus abdominis muscle separates during pregnancy. The rectus abdominis muscle gives the six pack like appearance over the abdomen. This normally occurs during pregnancy but can also happen during the second stage of labour. This is likely to cause pain, weakness and reduce the ability to continue with your normal activity levels.

Abdominal diastasis is relatively common and physiotherapy is very effective in reducing the gap. It is important that you seek advice early to maximise your recovery. At Physio.co.uk, there are specialist women’s health physiotherapists who will give you a comprehensive assessment and decide the best treatment options to suit you.

Above: Rolling soft tissue massage of the lower back by an experienced massaage therapist

What are the causes of pregnancy related abdominal diastasis?

Although pregnancy related abdominal diastasis is common during pregnancy, there are a number of risk factors that may increase the chances of you experiencing it. Risk factors include:

Older women
Larger babies
Greater weight gain
Caesarean section
Multiple pregnancies
Having more than one baby at the same time (multiparity)
Weak abdominal muscles

What is the physiotherapy treatment for pregnancy related abdominal diastasis?

There are a variety of treatment options for pregnancy related abdominal diastasis. Your physiotherapist at Physio.co.uk will work with you to decide the most appropriate physiotherapy programme to suit you. Physiotherapy treatment may include:

An assessment of the size of the gap between the rectus abdominals (rectus check)
Pelvic floor strengthening exercises
Transverse abdominal strengthening exercises
Advice on movements and exercises to avoid
Gradual return to normal activities of daily living
Provision of abdominal support if necessary
Advice on positioning
Progression of all strengthening exercises when appropriate

Physiotherapy is extremely important in facilitating a successful recovery from pregnancy related abdominal diastasis. Physio.co.uk will complete a thorough assessment and use this information to create a comprehensive physiotherapy programme appropriate for your needs.

Summary

Pregnancy related abdominal diastasis is a condition in which the rectus abdominal muscle separates during pregnancy or labour. The main symptoms include pain, weakness and difficulty in carrying out your normal activities of daily living. The specialist physiotherapists at Physio.co.uk will provide you with a full assessment and treatment programme to optimise your recovery and prevent any further complications in the future. Please call Physio.co.uk on 0330 088 7800 to arrange an appointment today! You can also book appointments online

↑ Back to Top

You are here:

/ What we treat / Womens health / Post partum problems / Abdominal diastasis /