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Diastasis Recti: The “Splitting” Abdominal Muscles

It seems the topic of “Diastasis” is picking up speed in a variety of forums. Particularly on social media in mom groups and exercise discussions. There also appears to be a wide array of misinformation that continues to be spread around. I had one client tell me “I have been doing some research and one place I went to online said that if I have a diastasis I will ALWAYS look a minimum of 3 months pregnant.” This, for the vast majority, doesn’t necessarily need to be true; especially when you know what to do. I have been asked to write a few key things in regards to diastasis from a physiotherapy rehabilitation perspective.

…if I have a diastasis I will ALWAYS look 3 months pregnant

Let’s discuss what a diastasis is. The short version is it is the ‘splitting of the abdominal muscles’. A more specific answer is that in response to pregnancy, the abdominal muscles and associated tissue (fascia) stretch to allow room for a growing fetus. The muscles that are most affected by this is the rectus abdominis (the 6-pack ab muscles that sit in the front). This is not ‘bad’, cannot be prevented, and is in fact necessary during pregnancy. From a clinical perspective, I would say 100% of women who are pregnant, that look pregnant at the time of delivery, will have developed some diastasis during pregnancy. (Side note: diastasis  can also occur outside of pregnancy, but that is another discussion.)

In theory, after labor and delivery, the diastasis will ‘snap’ back together and the core muscles will work in perfect unison… Sometimes this coordination comes naturally to women post-partum. However, often women require some help in getting all the pieces working well together in a functional and coordinated fashion.

…after labor and delivery, the diastasis will ‘snap’ back together 

This is where people profit off our post-partum mommas  “Get your body BACK after baby”, “Post-partum BOOTCAMP”, “Get rid of MUMMY TUMMY in 1 simple exercise”. Unless someone is checking for diastasis recti, do so on a regular (weekly, daily) basis, and can ensure that you are coordinating those muscles well… claiming to be a Post-Partum Specialist is likely an over statement. Often times I see that someone has “healed” their own diastasis and want to “show you how” with their main credential being that they went through the same thing, and they are fine after starting back into heavy exercise at “6” weeks post-partum.

Simply asking people if they have a diastasis is not enough. Knowledge of the issue without being able to assist in modifying exercises to appropriately return to function is where many people stand. Are you wanting to start a class? Ask the instructor what they know about diastasis. If you don’t know if you have one, will they check? How many people have they checked? Not all postpartum fitness classes are created equal.

A diastasis is not necessarily a ‘quick fix’, and often people don’t realize they have it since it typically isn’t painful. What we do “know” is that a diastasis present at 8 weeks post-partum is likely to continue to be present (read dysfunctional) at a year post-partum. But what does ‘problematic’ mean if it’s not painful?

The tissue (fascia) of the diastasis doesn’t need to close in the sense of getting back to how it was, but it does need to be able to generate tension. If it can generate tension well and it is separated 2.5cm that person is going to have better function than if it is separated 1.5cm and not generating tension. (Think of tension as whether you have a firm uncooked noodle versus a soft, cooked noodle between the muscles. The cooked noodle will give away under pressure of the muscles on either side, and the uncooked noodle will hold and transfer force). Problematic could also be the contribution of diastasis to back pain, diaphragm dysfunction, and pelvic floor issues. Diastasis doesn’t cause these things, but it may contribute.

Focusing on the diastasis alone is a simplification of a complex situation, and each person will require slightly different treatment approaches.

What do I recommend? Contact your local pelvic floor physiotherapist, there is no time limit on when to go, but within the first 8-12 weeks will give time to get into a routine with baby and be early enough to have minimal “bad habits” or compensations to combat; or before you start back into exercise. It  is never too late to address anything that has developed during pregnancy and post-partum.

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Staying Fluid and Injury Free in Dance and Choreography

I am a UK based physio working in Exeter and Totnes. My focus is in helping people to develop a positive relationship with their body allowing them to become injury free, taking control of their own health and enjoying an active life.

When learning new choreography there is often a pressure to get the moves right quickly. This can energise us and enables us to focus our effort but it can also increase stress and tension. By focusing on what we’re trying to achieve it’s easy to forget our bodies, the very thing we need to be tuned in to. In my experience as a physiotherapist, tension is the major risk factor in triggering an injury.

How can I stay relaxed when learning choreography?

As a physiotherapist I work closely with breath. When we are stressed it is easy to lose our natural breathing pattern. This results in breathing into the chest rather than using our full abdomen, increasing tension and reducing performance.

Instead, take opportunities to breathe in softly through the nose feeling the lower abdomen gently expand. Avoid pulling in or tensing the stomach muscles. If you sense tension or discomfort you can take a long, slow and gentle out breath exhaling through the nose. Feel the muscle tension melting away, you can focus relaxation on specific parts of your body.

Dancing is fun and it is important to not be hard on yourself but to treat your body with patience. Often my clients put a lot of pressure on themselves and find that their performance improves when they just relax into their practice. Trust that you’re doing your best and your body will follow. If you have an injury it can be both stressful and frustrating, you may feel unable to train and this stress is likely to slow down recovery. I encourage clients to use imagery in their recovery process, softening breath and imagining yourself doing the choreography. Imagery has been shown to improve sports performance and helps connect the body and mind.

Michael Otto BSc MCSP  Holistic Physio in the UK.

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Do YOU have TMJ?

Have you heard of your temporomandibular joint (TMJ)? It’s one of the most used joints in your body. Did you know physiotherapy can help with TMJ problems?

Your TMJ, also known as your jaw joint, is used for eating, talking, expressing emotion (both consciously and unconsciously) and breathing.

Pain associated with dysfunction in this area may be felt in the jaw line, cheek, ear, temporal region (side of head) and commonly associated with headaches and neck pain. TMJ problems, or TMJ dysfunction (TMD) can also present as inability to fully open your mouth, pain with chewing, popping/cracking with opening and closing your mouth, and/or grinding/clenching of teeth.

Some of the causes of TMJ problems can be derangement or displacement of a disc between your mandible (jaw bone) and skull, muscle dysfunction, habitual clenching/grinding (bruxism), or trauma to the face and jaw. Common contributing factors to TMD can be stress, anxiety, prolonged opening of the mouth (e.g. during dental procedures), mandibular malalignment or orthodontic work to name a few.

A physiotherapist will assess the TMJ by asking a detailed history, taking observations of jaw alignment, posture, and neck position. They will observe how the individual opens and closes their mouth, looking for abnormal movements patterns, and observe for clicking from the TMJ. The therapist will palpate externally for muscle tone, and to assess the movement of the TMJ. Using gloves an intra-oral assessment will be completed as well to determine how the joint is functioning, and to further assess the myofascial system. The neck is generally assessed as it can commonly contribute to dysfunction in the TMJ.

Following an assessment, a treatment plan and home program will be developed.

Ms. W comes in with complaints of pain through the right greater than left temporal region of her jaw, inner ear on right, frequent headaches and stiffness in the jaw that is often worse in the morning. Recently she has begun to noticing a clicking from her right jaw, especially when she yawns or eats chewier items. Her dentist advised her she likely has TMJ problems and recommended that physiotherapy may help.

The physiotherapist may ask a few of the following questions: How long have you been dealing with this problem? Do you ever find yourself clenching your jaw in times of stress or have you been told you grind your teeth overnight? Any recent dental procedures? Any history of trauma to the face or neck?

As mentioned above the TMJ is one of the most frequently used joints in the body. Most clients who receive treatment for their jaws have been experiencing symptoms for some time, and often did not know that physiotherapy can help. Commonly they have seen their doctor or dentist prior to seeking treatment.

In the case above the individual likely has a longer standing history of clenching, also known as bruxism. Commonly people can do this subconsciously during their sleep, or in times of stress. When frequently clenching the muscles of the face and jaw can become fatigued and become sources of pain. When muscle are held tight for long enough they can start to alter the way the jaw moves, and lead to problems with a disc located between the jaw and the skull.

The physiotherapist will develop a treatment plan specific to Ms. W’s presentation completing treatment specific to the muscles surrounding the TMJ and the joint itself.

 

If any of the symptoms described sound familiar, book in for an assessment today!

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Maternity Leave… Sort of!

Today I spent my last day with clients, completing a physician lunch talking about all things women’s health, pelvic floor, and perinatal care, as well as doing reports and generally getting ready to step back from the clinic for maternity leave!

Currently 39 weeks and 3 days (according to the OB), and feeling well makes it more difficult to feel ‘done’ with clients. The best part of work is working with clients, so stepping back is proving to be as difficult as I had imagined it to be.

I have been taking comfort in the fact that over the past 2.5 years I have been able to build the business in my vision of providing the highest quality care, in a family-friendly and family-centered inviting facility. Our team of therapists are definitely my work family. Each therapist is compassionate, provides comprehensive care, and are exceptional caring and thoughtful individuals. I have the greatest confidence in their ability to help each client achieve their rehabilitation goals so each person can get back to doing what they love, with the people they love.

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with each and every client.

We have been chuckling at the clinic wondering when I will be ‘back’ after baby, and for a business owner maternity leave is not typical. At this time the plan is to return to the Perinatal Exercise Group 1-2x/week in July or August – so stay tuned for those announcements! As for client-care, when I return to to seeing clients initially I will only be seeing clients that I have seen previously.

 

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Welcoming incoming therapist Kendra Usunier!

As many of you know I, Haylie Lashta, will be going on maternity leave soon, with my last day scheduling clients being June 2, 2017. I have searched for the perfect person to come in to cover for my maternity leave that can also complete women’s health assessment and treatment, and she has been found!

Kendra Usunier BMR(PT), MClSc, FCAMPT will be joining our team starting on May 23, 2017!

Biography

Kendra graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2008 with a Bachelors of Medical Rehabilitation in Physiotherapy. She went on to complete a Masters of Clinical Science in Manipulative Therapy from Western University in 2015.

Since graduating Kendra has worked in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. She returned to Saskatoon in 2012, and is excited to begin working in Warman. Having grown up in a smaller community, she is happy to return to that environment.

Kendra’s primary focus has been orthopaedics and women’s health. She has taken extensive additional training in orthopaedics, becoming a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy (FCAMPT) – an internationally recognized qualification in manual and manipulative therapy. For more information on CAMPT therapists please click here.

In addition to orthopaedics, Kendra has a passion for women’s health and pre-and post-natal care. She has also taken additional courses in treatment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction, acupuncture, pain management, and myofascial release.

Kendra has a passion for ongoing education in physiotherapy, striving to provide the most up to date, evidence based treatment for patients. She assists in instructing muskuloskeletal courses at the University of Saskatchewan and within the Canadian Orthopaedic Division Syllabus.

Kendra enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, running, playing soccer and doing yoga in her spare time.

Areas of Practice Interest:

  • Spinal Assessment & Treatment
  • Osteoporosis Management
  • TMJ Dysfunction
  • Sports Rehabilitation
  • General Orthopedics
  • Prenatal & Post-partum
  • Urinary Incontinence
  • Pelvic Pain
  • Acupuncture

Kendra’s schedule has been provided and is available for appointments. Contact us to book your appointment today! Don’t want to wait? Cole Digel has availability as early as the week of May 15, 2017.

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