Diastasis Recti: Is It Ever Too Late to Heal? Exploring the Effects on Your Body

And What Are the Effects of a Diastasis on the Body?

 

I have updated and republished this seven year old article to address recurring questions like “Is it too late to close my diastasis?”, “Can my diastasis still be healed after having X number of children?” or “I am already 60+ is it still possible to repair my DR?”

Welcome to the Belly Blog. I am Julie Tupler, RN creator of the Tupler Technique®. The Tupler Technique® is the only research and evidence based program to treat a diastasis recti. I have been teaching the Tupler Technique® for over almost 30 years! My purpose for this blog is twofold. The first to educate people about all aspects of a diastasis recti and the second is to answer questions about the Tupler Technique® Program. Please feel free to post comments, questions, and your own personal stories on this blog.

 (Tupler Technique® Explained)

 

A diastasis recti is a condition many people have… they just don’t know it! This condition affects women, men, and children.

I wanted to start this blog with my most frequently asked question. This question comes from women.

 

IS IT TOO LATE TO CLOSE MY DIASTASIS?

 

A diastasis can be closed on anyone at any time. You can reverse it without surgery.

 

It is never too late ladies and gents! We are all born with a diastasis. It closes on 70% of children around three years of age after the nervous system has developed. Because the umbilicus is a weak spot in the connective tissue, this closure can re-open with continuous intra-abdominal force on it. This force comes from bodily activities like coughing, constipation, and activities like gymnastics,  crunches or the pilates 100’s.

 

However, the diastasis is usually worse on women who have been pregnant. This is because of two factors that occur during pregnancy. The growing uterus putting force on the connective tissue and the hormone relaxin that softens it. If you don’t close it after your first pregnancy, it will keep getting worse with each pregnancy.

 

 

 

What are the effects of a diastasis on the body?

 

There are a host of complications and effects if you leave your diastasis untreated. Some of these are back pain, abdominal hernias, poor posture, pelvic floor problems, and gastro-intestinal disturbances like constipation, and bloating.                          

 

They occur when the support system for the back and organs are the weak connective tissue instead of the muscles. Surprisingly most women who have had a baby, don’t know that they even have diastasis recti because they are hardly ever checked for it by their health care providers.

 

In order to prove my point that a diastasis can be closed on anyone at any time…… I would like to share a story from a 64 year old man that did my program. He has also shared with me his before and after photos. As you can see, not only has his belly gotten flatter, his belly button has gone from an outie to an innie! So ladies, if a man can get these results…so can you! Also, chances are the man in your life may also have a diastasis and just does not know it! The Tupler Technique® is something you both can do together! In other words, you can be each other’s belly buddy.

 

“Julie,

 

I want to thank you so much for helping me to overcome my diastasis disorder. I am 64 years old, 6 ft. 1 in height, 185 pounds and have maintained a good physical condition all my life. But I was bothered that in recent years, I could not maintain a relatively flat stomach. I felt that I might be carrying some extra fat in the tummy area that exercise and diet could not remove, so I decided to try smart lipo to remove the fat. Much to my chagrin after the procedure, my stomach pooch was even more pronounced. The doctor who did the procedure referred me to a surgeon who diagnosed me with diastasis. He said he could help me by treating it as a hernia and described the procedure and healing process. I decided not to go that route.

I started researching diastasis online and came across Julie Tupler Technique and decided to give it a try. I started wearing the splints on September 19 and also began the exercises the same date. I was totally amazed at the immediate results. My measurements upon starting were a midsection of 38 inches with 35 inches around the belly button area. The diastasis was approximately four fingers in width. I have enclosed photos showing the “before” measurements that were taken by my doctor on September 16. The “after’ pictures were taken by the surgeon on October 3. The doctor and her staff were overwhelmed by the drastic change in only six weeks. Six weeks after starting the process, my current measurements are 35 inch midsection and 34 inches around the belly button area. The diastasis has been reduced to approximately one finger in width. Hopefully, in a few weeks, the diastasis will be totally healed.

Thanks again for developing your rehab technique for diastasis. I might even try going on the beach again!”

 

– Mickey Gamble, Alabama

 

 

In Conclusion

 

 

Although it is never too late to close your diastasis recti, it will get worse and may develop into something far more serious if you leave it untreated.  Make no mistake it can happen to ANYONE - women, men, and children regardless of age and fitness level.

 

Learn more about the different types of programs under the Tupler Technique® here and if you are interested to know which type of program suits you click this link.