Rebuild Abdominal Strength for the Things You Need to Do
You may first notice diastasis recti as a gap or bulge through the middle of your abdomen. But appearance alone does not tell us how well your abdominal wall is working. For some people, the bigger concern is difficulty creating enough support for lifting, exercising, getting out of bed, or handling other physical demands. At Meier & Marsh Physical Therapy, physical therapy for diastasis recti in West Valley City, Tooele in Northpointe, Tooele on Main Street and Grantsville, UT focuses on function, not simply closing a gap. Our physical therapists assess how your abdominal muscles generate tension and work with your breathing, pelvic floor, trunk, and movement. Those findings tell us what needs to improve and how to build your strength safely.
What Is Diastasis Recti?
Diastasis recti is a widening of the connective tissue between the two sides of the rectus abdominis, commonly called the “six-pack” muscles. The connective tissue running between them is called the linea alba.
Diastasis recti is especially common during and after pregnancy as the abdominal wall adapts to a growing uterus. However, it is not exclusively a postpartum condition. It can also occur in men and in people who have never been pregnant.
You may notice:
- A visible gap along the center of the abdomen
- Bulging or doming during certain movements
- Difficulty generating abdominal tension
- A feeling of reduced trunk support
- Difficulty with certain exercises
- Trouble managing demanding lifting or carrying tasks
A visible separation does not automatically mean your abdominal wall cannot function well. That is why our evaluation looks beyond the width of the gap.
We Assess What Your Abdominal Wall Can Actually Do
Simply measuring the distance between the abdominal muscles gives us limited information. We also want to know whether the connective tissue can develop tension and how your abdominal muscles respond when you move or increase physical effort.
Your therapist may assess:
- The location and behavior of the abdominal separation
- Tension through the linea alba
- Abdominal muscle activation and coordination
- Breathing during movement
- Pelvic floor coordination when relevant
- Trunk and hip strength
- How you manage pressure during effort
- Bulging or doming during specific movements
- Lifting, carrying, or exercise tasks that are difficult for you
These findings help us determine whether the primary limitation is strength, coordination, pressure management, movement strategy, or a combination of factors.
That distinction shapes your treatment.
Your Abdominal Muscles Do Not Work Alone
Your abdominal wall works together with your diaphragm, pelvic floor, back muscles, and other trunk muscles to manage pressure and provide support during movement. Problems can become more noticeable when these areas do not coordinate well during physical effort.
For example, someone may hold their breath and push pressure outward through the abdomen every time they lift. Another person may breathe well but lack enough trunk strength for the weight they are trying to manage.
We identify which pattern applies to you rather than teaching every patient the same “core” strategy.
Learn to Generate Useful Abdominal Tension
Early treatment may focus on learning how to activate the abdominal muscles and create tension across the midline without excessive bulging. Breathing is often incorporated so you can coordinate muscle activity while continuing to breathe normally.
Your therapist selects exercises based on what you can control. As abdominal function improves, the program becomes more challenging.
The goal is not to keep you performing gentle abdominal exercises indefinitely. It is to build enough control and strength for the demands of your normal life.
Doming Does Not Mean You Have Damaged Your Abdomen
Seeing the center of your abdomen dome or bulge during an exercise can be concerning. It gives your therapist useful information about how your abdominal wall is handling that particular task, but it does not automatically mean you have caused damage.
Instead of simply banning every exercise that produces doming, we look at why it occurs. Changing your breathing, modifying the load, adjusting the movement, or building more strength may improve how your abdominal wall manages the task.
As your capacity increases, exercises that were initially difficult may become appropriate again.
Build Strength Beyond Basic Core Exercises
A strong abdominal wall needs to work during much more than exercises performed on the floor. It needs to respond when you pick something up, carry groceries, push, pull, exercise, or care for a child.
Your therapist watches how your abdominal wall responds as the challenge increases. We adjust the exercise, resistance, and movement strategy based on what we see.
Depending on your goals, treatment can progress into:
- Squats and other lower-body exercises
- Lifting from the floor
- Carrying
- Pushing and pulling
- Rotational movements
- More challenging abdominal exercises
- Running preparation
- Strength training
- Sport-specific movements
Diastasis Recti After Pregnancy Needs More Than a “Get Your Abs Back” Plan
Pregnancy requires major changes in the abdominal wall, and some degree of separation is a common adaptation. Postpartum rehabilitation should not treat those changes as a failure or focus solely on appearance.
Instead, we look at what you need your body to do now. That might include getting on and off the floor, lifting your baby, carrying a car seat, returning to the gym, running, or resuming a physically demanding job.
We also consider pelvic floor symptoms when they are present. Urinary leakage, pelvic pressure, bowel concerns, or pelvic pain deserve their own assessment rather than being assumed to come from the diastasis.
Progress Is More Than a Smaller Gap
Some patients become focused on measuring the space between their abdominal muscles. While changes in the separation can be monitored, gap width alone does not define a successful rehabilitation program.
We also look for better abdominal tension, improved strength, greater control during demanding movements, and the ability to perform activities that were previously difficult. A patient who can lift, exercise, and move with better control has made meaningful physical progress even if some separation remains.
Your treatment continues to change as your abilities improve.
Know When Diastasis Recti Needs Additional Evaluation
Diastasis recti is different from an abdominal hernia. A hernia involves tissue pushing through a weakness or opening in the abdominal wall, while diastasis involves widening of the connective tissue between the abdominal muscles.
If you have a new or painful abdominal bulge, significant abdominal pain, or another symptom that raises concern for a hernia or medical condition, an appropriate medical provider should evaluate it.
Physical therapy focuses on restoring muscle function, strength, coordination, and movement. We will also tell you when a finding belongs outside our scope and needs another provider’s expertise.
Clinical Expertise for the Activities You Want Back
At Meier & Marsh Physical Therapy, we do not judge your progress by whether your abdomen looks a certain way. We determine how your abdominal wall functions and what is limiting you during the activities you want to perform.
Your therapist explains the findings, prescribes the right exercises for your current abilities, and increases the challenge as your strength and control improve. That gives you a clear path from basic abdominal retraining to getting back to normal exercise, lifting, work, or family activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Build a Stronger, More Functional Abdominal Wall
Diastasis recti does not mean you need to spend your life avoiding abdominal exercises, lifting, or challenging movement. The right assessment can show how well your abdominal wall generates tension, coordinates with the rest of your trunk, and responds to the activities that matter to you.
Contact Meier & Marsh Physical Therapy for physical therapy for diastasis recti in West Valley City, Tooele in Northpointe, Tooele on Main Street and Grantsville, UT. Our physical therapists can determine what is limiting your abdominal function and build a precise treatment plan to help you improve strength, control, and confidence with everyday movement and exercise.
Your Next Steps…
- Request An Appointment
- Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
- Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
- Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free
