Shut off the water...

So if you had a flood in your basement and you started dealing with it by scooping the water out with buckets and throwing all your towels on the water, you would still only get so far unless you found the source and turned off the water.

This is the same approach we take when healing your core.  With any problem we have, we need to look at how to fix the problem and also how to stop making the problem worse.

We hear a lot of stories from people who have tried several things to fix their diastasis.  They have been diligent at many exercises and worn splints for months and then stopped being as faithful and then feel like their diastasis is back.  They become understandably frustrated and blame what ever program they were doing or think they probably just need another splint.  Or think they need to do more exercises or splint more, or something.

This approach and mindset is like continuing to bucket out the water in your flooded basement and continuing to throw towels on the water but never looking for or addressing the leak.

You have to shut off the water!

Diastasis Recti is a not a free standing diagnosis. Diastasis Recti is a result of several factors, the most prominent being an inactive internal core, and an over active external core.  This imbalance often results in inactive collapsed daily postures and continuous forceful forward pressure pushing out on stretched connective tissue throughout the day.  Basically if your internal transverse abdominis is stretched out, ignored and inactive the muscle becomes a deflated balloon around your waist instead of a meaty corset.  Your body begins to collapse into flexed postures that make it even more difficult to use that internal muscle and the external muscles start pulling to "help".  Your body needs your corset for stability and without it you are forced to use strategies that brace and push out on abdominal wall every time you lift, bend, strain or challenge yourself. This imbalance and pushing out is what creates the diastasis and what also keeps it from closing and staying closed.

Core Rehab is about changing these strategies.  Yes, isolating Transverse exercises are essential to this.  Yes, abdominal splinting can play an important role.  But then what?  These exercises and splinting are to rehabilitate the muscle for what?  Not more exercises and more splinting.  Your core strength needs to be systematically incorporated and integrated into everything your body needs to do.  The functional use of this muscle is the key.

(This is how  your transverse abdominis is supposed to look when it is strong and active.)

To turn off the water... or to stop the damage, you must change how your body is using this corset muscle.  Doing hundreds of exercises but not using your transverse when you pick up your toddler 10 times a day is not going to get you very far.  Splinting for months but sitting on your tailbone in a collapsed position to nurse your baby for 8-12 hours a day is not going to get you very far.

(Your transverse is unable to be active when your body is crunched as in this slouched posture.)

The Tummy Team addresses every aspect of healing the diastasis and restoring your core.  The needed integration becomes muscle memory and habit before you are done our program.  You understand why you are doing what your are doing and you can see the benefits of it.

When our clients finish our rehab programs, their core has been systematically integrated into their life. They often still have strength to build but they know how to continue building it. 

When our clients close their diastasis with our program, they do not have to ask.. "will this just open again".  They know what caused it.  So yes, it theoretically could happen again, IF.... you stop using your core, IF you sit, stand and walk with a collapsed posture, IF you push out, bear down, crunch, tuck and brace with effort and IF you ignore everything we have taught you and ignore pain and ignore your core.  Then yes, you can get another diastasis. Your body will recreate the disuse atrophy that gives you a deflated inactive core, your body will collapse and you will be forced to use less then optimal strategies for daily function and you will be suseptible to your abdominal separating again.  BUT WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT when you know how to fix it and keep your core strong?

The goal is not to do the rehab exercises forever and splint for years.  The rehab exercises tend to continue to be effective because our typical lifestyle of sitting most of our days at computers, in cars, and  at desks and then doing a few hours of active movement a week, does not give us the core strength we need for those challenges we do.  The exercises are so effective and easy to do anywhere and help you feel better, so you can still do them periodically.

If your diastasis "opened back up", take some time to really understand what you have done to completely rehabilitate your core and integrate that core strength into your daily life and postures.  I would bet it is not the splint that is your issue. 

It would be great if you could just put on a splint and let it fix you.  There is no magic pill.  It just does not work that way.  Your body works on a "use it or lose it" system.  You need to use the core everyday and most of the day to have the strength you need for the life you live.  But you can do it.  It is not impossible, it is not even difficult.  Let us help you.

We love what we do.  Our passion is to help you not only feel better in the next 6 weeks but for you to feel better 16 plus years from now.  Don't skimp on what your body needs.  Don't take the short cut.  Build the foundation your needs for the rest of your life.  The investment is so worth it.  You will not regret it.

We would love to work with you in person or through our comprehensive online programs.  Check out more information at www.thetummyteam.com.