Recommendations - Diastasis Recti Physical Therapy
I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations of a physical therapist that can diagnose, and provide therapy for diastasis recti?
I'm one year post-partum, and workout regularly. I didn't even know what diastasis recti was until a friend mentioned it a few weeks ago, and warned me that I should be careful about the core exercises I do. I googled, and read up on it. I did the lying on the back self-diagnosis, and think that I am actually ok. I don't really have any pooch, and that I don't have more than one of two finger separation, but who really knows.
I don't usually over worry about things, but I don't want to go back to my normal workouts if they could potentially harm me so I thought I would get a professional to evaluate me, and hopefully get the okay to go back to my normal workouts.
Anyone have any experience with this, or can recommend a PT?
Parent Replies
Anna Shapiro is not a PT but is an excellent Pilates trainer certified in Pre-natal/Post-natal Pilates including diastasis repair.
She helped me with a long term diastasis I had (from years earlier). There are specific exercises to repair it.
Less then 2 finger width separation is not considered severe diastasis. It also depends on how deep the separation is.
If it's more then the 1st knuckle, there is more to be concerned about. It might be worth at least talking to Anna and
maybe having a session. You want to be really conservative about forward flexion (ie: sit ups). Ab/core strengthening
exercises can be done on hands and knees....planks are a great example.
Give Anna a call, 510-621-8746.
i'm about 10 months postpartum and just found out i also have it from a friend who is a yoga instructor who checked me. (why don't our OBs screen for this?!) i also have about a 2 finger separation. i made an private appt to see my pilates instructor who gave me some exercises to do to help close the separation. she also told me a few things to stay away from in yoga. here's a website she sent me with things you can do during your day to work on it. https://diastasisrectified.com
i'm sure any good PT could advise you on this. it's not really that your workouts will harm you, but that you won't close the separation and that just makes any pooching there worse. if you have only had one baby, it may not seem like such a big deal, but after a second pregnancy it could get worse so i would do the exercises and try to close is as much as you can now.
You might be fine then. Not everyone gets it. Most of the yoga teachers I have had post-partum have checked me. If you want to be sure I can recommend my PT, Amy Selinger, who has been really great for other issues I have had during pregnancy and post-partum. Her practice is called Back to Life and she is in Oakland and SF.
I had a really positive experience at the pelvic rehab center in oakland/Berkeley across from Whole Foods. They specialize in post labor injuries.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/pelvic-health-and-rehabilitation-center-berkel…