Diastasis Rectus Abdominus

May 21st, 2019 / Nicki Chick

DID YOU KNOW?
by Laura Ham, Specialist Women’s Health Physio at Parsons Green, 21st May 2019.

• Diastasis Rectus Abdominus (DRA or RAD) refers to excessive prolonged widening of the mid-line abdominal connective tissue, called the linea alba.

• Everyone, including women who have not had a baby, have some degree of separation of the linea alba. This is a normal anatomical feature of the body, that becomes further affected by the necessary stretching of the abdominal tissues during pregnancy.
• Risk factors for DRA are thought to include multiple pregnancies, heavy or poor lifting techniques (e.g breath hold)  genetic predisposition, chronic straining (including coughing, vomiting and constipation), and excessive abdominal loading with exercise.
• When we assess DRA, we are looking not only at the width, but also the depth of the separation.
• A women’s health physiotherapist is the perfect person to assess and create a management plan regarding diastasis.

Everyone’s tummy is different and thus a unique treatment plan is required for each Mummy.