CHILDREN & DIASTASIS

YES, CHILDREN CAN HAVE A DIASTASIS AS WELL

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 "Children with Diastasis"

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by Julie Tupler, RN

The kid-focused 'Belly Button Boogie' program has been created by Julie Tupler, RN to help children (and their families and teachers) understand diastasis-recti. Teaching them in a highly engaging, fun way, kids learn how they can strengthen their own abdominals and start to exercise the right way - creating good habits for the rest of their lives.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

FOUR STEPS OF TUPLER TECHNIQUE® PROGRAM

1. Repositioning your connective tissue and abdominal muscles with the Diastasis Rehab Splint®

2. Tupler Technique® exercises (Elevator, Contracting, Head lifts)

3. Developing transverse muscle strength and awareness with activities of daily living and when exercising

4. Getting up and down correctly (seated to standing, standing to seated, seated to back lying and back lying to seated

LOGISTICS OF TUPLER TECHNIQUE® PROGRAM

1. During the first six weeks of the program, it is recommended to focus on developing transverse muscle strength and awareness.

2. During the first six weeks doing the 4 steps of the program and aerobic exercises such as:

          : Walking outside

          : Walking on a treadmill

          : Elliptical machine

          : Upright stationary bike

3. To protect the weakened connective tissue, it is recommended NOT to do:

          :Exercises classes

          :Weight training

          :Sporting activities 

4. In Week 6 of the program you will be taught a diastasis safe exercise routine.

5. The Tupler Technique® Program progresses over 18 weeks. However, if you have a severe diastasis you may not close it. It will be smaller.

6. When you close your diastasis, you can stop wearing your splint. However, you need to continue doing the exercises to keep it closed.

7. Because you have a weak spot in your connective tissue at your belly button you can always separate your muscles again by putting force on your connective tissue.

8. This is a program you will want to do the rest of your life because of how great it makes you look and feel.

9. You will not believe how much stronger you will feel when your muscles are in the right position. Close together! This program is not a fad.

WHY CHILDREN NEED TO DEVELOP A STRONG PHYSICAL CORE

All babies are born with their muscles separated. Usually, as the nervous system matures, the muscles come closer together. However, in 30% of children, the muscles remain apart.

The way some children are being taught in school to develop their abdominal muscles is potentially negatively affecting their health and well-being!

We all know that developing a strong physical core is crucial. We use our core in virtually everything we do that involves movement— even sitting up in bed. Unfortunately, a significant number of children have a weak core because of a diastasis recti.

POTENTIAL RISKS FOR A CHILD WITH A DIASTASIS

If a child has separated abdominal muscles, his or her developing spine and organs won't be supported. Diastasis Recti has even been linked to Central Coordination Disorder (CCD), a condition that results in delayed motor development.

WHY IS IMPORTANT TO CLOSE A DIASTASIS AT AN EARLY AGE

Even if a child's muscles do close, they can easily separate again if the child performs exercises that put force and pressure on the connective tissue joining the muscles. Crunches, which are taught in some schools, do exactly that and thus re-open closed muscles or make already separated muscles spread even further apart. It is important to close a diastasis at an early age by teaching children how to exercise effectively so they will have a stronger core and a better foundation for their future.

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