Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) is an issue that commonly develops in women after pregnancy and childbirth, but it can occur in other individuals as a result of injury or natural aging and muscle weakening. The condition is categorized by a separation of the left and right sides of the outermost abdominal muscle. While this separation doesn’t hurt in and of itself, it can lead to appearance changes in the stomach that some people find unflattering, and it can cause some discomfort during certain activities. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at how a physical therapist can help correct the onset of diastasis rectus abdominis.
Causes And Symptoms Of DRA
As we touched on in the introduction, the most common cause of DRA is pregnancy. As your baby develops, the uterus expands and puts increased pressure on your stomach wall. This added stress causes the connective tissue (called the linea alba) in the area to widen, which in turn increases the space between the left and right abdominal muscles. Following childbirth, this separation can lead to a saggy, wrinkled or softened appearance in the stomach area that some individuals want to address postpartum.
It should be noted that DRA is certainly not just an issue for pregnant women, as it can also be caused by large fluctuations in weight, obesity, poor techniques during abdominal-focused exercises and there may be a genetic component to this muscular separation. Many men also develop DRA, so it’s not just a women’s issue.
DRA is typically painless, and most symptoms are visual in nature. Many patients notice the softened or wrinkled appearance on their stomach, but they may also find that certain ab-focused movements are difficult or uncomfortable. Most patients tend to seek out treatment for their DRA for mainly aesthetic reasons, but unaddressed DRA can contribute to poor posture or low back pain, so there are certainly some health-related reasons for working to manage the condition.
Treating DRA With PT
The good news for new mothers who are hoping to resolve their DRA is that the condition oftentimes resolves on its own slowly after childbirth. Oftentimes the muscles slowly shift back into a more natural position after the increased abdominal pressure has resolved, and visual symptoms become less noticeable or non-existent. It’s less likely for these muscles to return to a normal position after multiple pregnancies, so if your abs haven’t shifted back or still feel weak months after childbirth, consider connecting with a physical therapist.
Physical therapy is an incredibly effective way for managing diastasis rectus abdominis. After your initial assessment, your PT will work to improve your abdominal muscle health and the supporting structures in a few different ways:
- Strength Training – Physical therapy exercises will focus on strengthening the different layers of stomach muscles that play a role in DRA rehabilitation. They’ll work to strengthen your transverse abdominis, your internal and external obliques, and your rectus abdominis all with appropriate exercises in order to strengthen your abs and help restore them to a more natural position in your stomach area.
- Education – If certain movements are causing discomfort, we can teach you different ways to perform activities while you’re going through the physical therapy process. By learning which movements to avoid and how to perform certain movements, you can keep your recovery on track.
- Posture Care – We also noted above that weakened core muscles can lead to posture problems. We’ll explain ways to keep your spine in a healthy alignment so that your back isn’t handling added strain as a result of weaker abdominal muscles. Even after strength has been restored to your core, these posture changes will lay the foundation for a healthy spine now and in the future.
You don’t need to feel self-conscious about any area of your body, but we’re here to help in any way we can if you want to address some postpartum bodily changes. For more information on DRA physical therapy, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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