Diastasis - rehab strategies to improve outcome
-- Diane Lee --
The abdominal wall stretches in all women during pregnancy and the inter-recti distance (IRD) widens universally by the third trimester. Over half recover by six months but many remained widened at 1 year. Diastasis of the rectus abdominis (DRA) potentially disrupts the mechanical contribution of the abdominal wall to thoracolumbopelvic function and has cosmetic consequences that are a concern for many women.
It is clinically noted that strategies of traditional rehabilitation that narrow the IRD often increase the distortion of the linea alba. Loss of tension of the linea alba can compromise control of both the abdominal contents and the thoracolumbopelvic region. Alternately, strategies that increase tension of the linea may widen the DRA, but enhanced tension of the linea alba has advantages for thoracolumbopelvic function.
In this PowerTalk we will discuss:
The abdominal wall stretches in all women during pregnancy and the inter-recti distance (IRD) widens universally by the third trimester. Over half recover by six months but many remained widened at 1 year. Diastasis of the rectus abdominis (DRA) potentially disrupts the mechanical contribution of the abdominal wall to thoracolumbopelvic function and has cosmetic consequences that are a concern for many women.
It is clinically noted that strategies of traditional rehabilitation that narrow the IRD often increase the distortion of the linea alba. Loss of tension of the linea alba can compromise control of both the abdominal contents and the thoracolumbopelvic region. Alternately, strategies that increase tension of the linea may widen the DRA, but enhanced tension of the linea alba has advantages for thoracolumbopelvic function.
In this PowerTalk we will discuss:
- Why therapeutic intervention should not focus only on training strategies that reduce the IRD
- What the clinical implications are of IRD widening by TrA contraction and how this can improve functional and cosmetic outcomes
