Treatment of Abdominal Rectus Muscle Diastasis

About the disease

Abdominal rectus muscle diastasis (abdominal separation) is the medical term for a tummy pooch. It can develop if the space between the lower abdominal muscles widens, causing the lower abdomen to visibly stick out. Women over the age of 35 are more likely to have a tummy pooch, because muscles become softer and less resistant to pressure with age and a lot of women have had a baby by then. It is less common in men, but it can still occur. For instance, bad posture during weightlifting and body strength exercising.

According to  Healthline, abdominal rectus muscle diastasis is most common among pregnant women. Statistics show that approximately 35% of all pregnant women experience abdominal separation. This can be explained by the pressure that the foetus puts on the abdominal muscles, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy. Women who are carrying two or more babies or who have had multiple pregnancies are more likely to develop abdominal separation because of the increased pressure on the abdomen. It is important for all pregnant women to exercise these muscles prior to the birth. It will assist the delivery and should help to avoid abdominal separation. Sometimes, newborn babies are born with widened abdominal muscles, but these usually flatten out on their own after a while.

Symptoms

• A large belly
• Inability to tighten the abdominal muscles properly
• Lower back pain, in some cases
• Constipation, in some cases
• Restricted bowel muscles, in some cases

Diagnosis

• During a general examination, the doctor will measure the patient’s abdomen, to determine the extent of abdominal separation.
• The doctor may ask the patient to do special exercises, to see how the abdominal muscles tighten and support the lower belly area.
• An ultrasound can be useful when examining the position of the abdominal muscles. It can also be helpful in determining whether the patient’s internal organs have been affected. For pregnant women, an ultrasound is a common and recommended procedure, so this test can be done during the regular check-up.

Treatment

• In mild cases of abdominal rectus muscle diastasis, doctors usually recommend physical therapy that aims to restore abdominal muscle strength. These exercises need to be done on a regular basis to have the desired effect.
• The patient may also be advised to wear a special belly splint that supports the abdominal muscles. Many pregnant women are advised to wear this splint during the last weeks of their pregnancy.
• Surgery, which can be either open or minimally invasive, aims to tuck the widened muscles back into the right position.

Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Farrukh Ahmed