Abdominal diastasis is an anatomical phenomenon that occurs in our abdomen, especially in pregnant women, in people who have suffered a large weight gain suddenly (or not) and in a small part of people it happens for congenital reasons.
In this article We explain what diastasis is, why it appears and how to prevent it.
What is abdominal diastasis and why does it appear?
Abdominal diastasis is a condition of anatomical type that characterized by excessive separation of the right and left sides of the rectus abdominis, the most superficial muscle of our abdomen. This separation is done through the linea alba, a line of connective tissue that runs from our breastbone to our navel. According to the author we read, diastasis is considered if the separation is between 2 and 2.5 centimeters.
This line has a certain elastic capacity but in circumstances such as pregnancy or an exaggerated and sudden weight gain it can become overstretched or even rupture, giving rise to the condition we know as diastasis.
This condition is usually seen in premature babies, although it usually disappears over time. It is also common in pregnancies with more than one fetus or in women who have had more pregnancies in the past.
Although it does not usually require treatment as such, Sometimes surgery may be necessary if a hernia develops. between the right and left parts of the rectus abdominis.
How to prevent diastasis?
In the first place we must comment that the diastasis can be functional or not, that is, we may suffer a certain degree of diastasis but this does not mean that it affects us in our daily, sports or even sexual life. Everything will depend on whether the linea alba still maintains a certain tension and is capable of managing well the loads and pressure demands at the intra-abdominal level.
That said, it must be taken into account that diastasis does not come alone, at least when it is not functional. This means that diastasis can affect our entire abdominal cavity, including dysfunctions at the level of the diaphragm, lumbar spine and pelvic floor.
For the treatment it is important that we go to a professional who guides us in therapeutic exercise and who is specialized in this area.
Breathing control is extremely important to facilitate pressure management and prevent the diastasis from going further and a hernia from appearing. A piece of advice that we must take into account, especially in the first phases of treatment, is that we should not hold apnea when performing the exercises. In other words, it is contraindicated to hold your breath because this greatly increases intra-abdominal pressure.. Instead of this the breath must accompany the movements in a fluid way.
It is in a final phase of treatment that it is recommended to introduce regular strength training, that is, regular exercises such as squats, deadlifts or planks.
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