Diane Lee Diastasis Recti

Diastasis recti, also called abdominal separation, is a widening and thinning of the connective tissue between the abdominal muscles. It can appear after pregnancy, weight change or repeated pressure inside the abdomen. A gap alone does not determine how well the abdominal wall works. Assessment may consider tension along the midline, rib and pelvis position, breathing, lifting, rolling in bed and symptoms such as back discomfort or a feeling of poor trunk support.

A physiotherapist can watch how you breathe and move, then build exercises around gentle abdominal coordination and whole-body strength. Exhaling during effort, changing how you rise from bed and avoiding breath-holding may reduce unwanted pressure while control improves. Progress should be gradual; an exercise that causes doming, pain or pelvic heaviness may need modification. A tailored programme is more useful than repeatedly testing the gap with your fingers.

Arrange an assessment if separation is accompanied by persistent pain, a new bulge that is tender or difficult to push back, worsening weakness, urinary or bowel symptoms, or difficulty returning to daily activities. Seek prompt medical help for severe abdominal pain, vomiting, a hard discoloured bulge or inability to pass stool or gas, because these symptoms need assessment beyond routine postnatal rehabilitation.

Ask whether your symptoms fit diastasis recti, whether a hernia or pelvic-floor problem also needs checking, which movements to modify, and how progress will be measured.