1.- What is abdominal diastasis?
Prognosis of the disease
3.- Symptoms of diastasis abdominalis
4.- Medical tests for diastasis abdominalis
5.- What are the causes of abdominal diastasis?
Can it be prevented?
7.- Treatments for diastasis abdominis
8.- Which specialist treats it?
What is abdominal diastasis?
An abdominal diastasis occurs when the rectus abdominis muscles separate due to damage that has been caused to the connective tissue. Normally, these muscles are attached to each other and to the midline of the body, known as the linea alba. It is mainly a functional and aesthetic problem that affects a considerable number of people.
Diastasis abdominalis is more prevalent in women, especially pregnant women.
pregnant women.
Prognosis of the disease
It is a condition that can occur in almost anyone, regardless of age, sex or lifestyle. That said, women, during the period of pregnancy, do significantly increase their chances of suffering from diastasis recti. Two-thirds of pregnant women tend to have diastasis recti during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Symptoms of diastasis abdominalis
When suffering from abdominal diastasis you may have some of the following symptoms:
- Gas
- Poor digestion
- Back pain
- Urinary incontinence
- Abdominal bulging
Medical tests for diastasis abdominalis
Abdominal diastasis can be easily identified by physical examination. From the results, it is possible to assess whether there is a simultaneous hernia and to visualize the separation of the rectus muscles.
What are the causes of abdominal diastasis?
Abdominal diastasis may appear as a consequence of conditions that cause an increase in intra-abdominal pressure (such as pregnancy, obesity or ascites), or also with connective tissue diseases.
Can it be prevented?
Especially for pregnant women, pelvic floor exercises, along with transverse abdominis work are very effective in preventing diastasis and its possible symptoms, such as urinary incontinence.
Treatments for diastasis abdominalis
Physical therapy may be the most helpful in treating diastasis abdominalis. Physiotherapeutic exercises such as hypopressive abdominal exercises can prevent urinary incontinence and the weakening of the pelvic floor during the postpartum period.
Which specialist treats it?
A specialist in Physiotherapy is the one who treats abdominal diastasis and its correct diagnosis and treatment.