For women, beauty is as important as health, so any disease that does not have the best effect on the appearance brings a lot of negative emotions to the fairer sex. One of the most unpleasant diagnoses a woman can hear after giving birth is diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles. This problem can significantly spoil the everyday life of young mothers. Therefore, it is worth delving into its study.
The essence of the problem
Touching on a topic such as diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles after childbirth, it is worth noting that this is a fairly common complication. Women who have had childbirth are given a similar diagnosis in approximately 40% of cases.
Diastasis itself is nothing more than an extension of the white line of the abdomen. Simply put, under certain pressure during childbirth, the rectus abdominis muscles literally move away from each other. Sometimes the distance of separation can reach 10 cm, although 0.5-2 cm is considered the norm. This problem, related to the perinatal period, is very relevant and develops in the upper part.
How to recognize diastasis
The expansion of the abdominal muscles, as a rule, develops during pregnancy and becomes noticeable 2-3 months after the birth. When there is a change in the normal background, the connective tissue becomes more loose, since this is necessary to create the necessary conditions during labor.
Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles has rather simple symptoms: first of all, this is a noticeable cosmetic defect associated with a protrusion in the abdomen. Although there are frequent cases when women can lead an active lifestyle after childbirth and not notice negative changes. In this condition, diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles may not have obvious signs, but it will develop, remaining invisible.
The fact that the muscles moved away from each other can be indicated by unpleasant sensations, a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, as well as belching, constipation and difficulty walking. If it so happened that you have to deal with large diastasis, then the following fact should be taken into account - such a defect will lead to pronounced functional disorders. It:
- decreased contractility of the muscles of the abdominal wall;
- the development of atrophy of the abdominal muscles;
- Stretching of the aponeurosis, as well as their thinning;
- weakening of the abdominal function .
As for the nature of the pain, it can differ significantly both in the duration of the attack itself and in strength.
Features of the anatomy of the anterior abdominal wall
Diastasis of the rectus abdominal muscles after childbirth is a disease that will become clear only after studying the fundamentals of the structure of the abdominal wall. It is known that on both sides of the white line are paired rectus muscles enclosed in a dense case (consists of three broad lateral muscles and tendon sprains, they are also aponeurosis).
Directly the white line itself begins at the xiphoid process of the sternum and stretches to the pubic symphysis. In fact, this is a combination of aponeurism of the broad muscles of the abdomen. The wide white line at the top (2-2.5 cm) narrows in its lower part. In the event that the connective tissue (aponeurism) has congenital weakness, diastasis may develop due to the loads received during childbirth.
Diagnosis
What is needed to determine diastasis of the rectus muscles of the abdomen after childbirth? Signs that carry painful sensations can appear much later, so waiting for them is not necessary. To identify the discrepancy, it is necessary to pay attention to that part of the peritoneal wall, which is located in the middle between the xiphoid process of the sternum and the navel.
This will help a proven test, which is easy to do on your own: you need to lie down, while the feet should be pressed to the floor, and the legs bent at the knees. Next, you need to put one hand under the head, and the other on the stomach and make it so that each finger is perpendicular to the white line in the navel. When everything is done, it is worth completely relaxing the stomach, after which, with a gentle movement, immerse your fingers in it.
After that, the shoulders and chest should be raised, as during the performance of the classic exercise for the press. The next thing to do is start moving your fingertips along the white line. Thus, you can grope the edges of the rectus medial muscles, feel their divergence (if any), and also measure its width.
Diastasis of the rectus abdominal muscles after childbirth can be divided into 3 main stages:
- first: characterized by a discrepancy of 5 to 7 cm;
- second: implies more than 7 cm of distance;
- The third stage is considered a large diastasis and inevitably leads to a saggy stomach.
In order to make a competent prognosis of the disease, it is necessary to assess the condition of the abdominal wall individually.
How to treat muscle discrepancy
Diastasis of the rectus muscles of the abdomen after childbirth is a rather serious problem, therefore, it is impossible to ignore it, letting the situation go by gravity. This idea is confirmed by the fact that the expansion does not pass on its own and without appropriate treatment is constantly progressing.
At the same time, the good news is that this type of impact on the disease, such as surgery, is not always relevant. There are less radical methods of treating a problem such as diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles. Exercise is one of the most effective ways to neutralize a weakening without surgery. Doctors recommend this way of recovery to patients in whom the disease is in the initial stage.
But the complex of exercises and the scheme of classes as a whole should be selected only by an experienced instructor who will take into account all the individual characteristics of the state of a particular patient in the postpartum period. It is worth clarifying that physical therapy will give the desired effect only when diastasis is in the initial stage. Then the press will quickly harden and the stretch will be neutralized.
If you have to deal with a far advanced stage of estrangement, then it makes sense to think about the operation. The purpose of the surgical intervention is the elimination of diastasis and the qualitative strengthening of the problem area.
Diastasis of the rectus abdominal muscles: exercises, reviews
If it happened that in the process of diagnosis was revealed sprain of the connective tissue, then the exercises should be given special attention. Already in the first time after childbirth, women can afford to perform certain types of physical activity. This may be, for example, the so-called cat pose, the purpose of which is to strengthen the abs. Kegel exercises can also be considered relevant. Attention should be paid to the rotation of the shoulders, static stretching and breathing in the stomach. If you focus on the opinion of doctors (and it’s worth doing), then the most favorable period for starting training will be time after 6 weeks. There is one more nuance that should be taken into account with such a problem as diastasis of the rectus muscles of the abdomen after childbirth: a cesarean section (if any) violates the structure of the tissues. Therefore, with such births, you can deal only after 10-12 weeks from the day the baby is born.
Do you have diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles after childbirth? What is it and how to treat such a pathology? To answer these questions, it is worth paying attention to the reviews of those who applied specific treatment methods. If we study the opinions of women who have faced a similar problem, we can conclude that in most cases the discrepancy is brought back to normal through stable exercises. The main thing is not to be lazy and do everything as you need. As for more severe cases, an endoscopic technique that has repeatedly proved its effectiveness is increasingly used to restore a normal state. In any case, such a problem as diastasis of the rectus muscles of the abdomen after childbirth, treatment implies extremely competent. Therefore, one of the main tasks is to find a good doctor.
Important features of physiotherapy
Those women who were forced to encounter such an unpleasant diagnosis as diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles after childbirth, exercises can give the maximum result if you approach the process correctly. First of all, during classes, you need to pay attention to breathing. It is important, when performing each of the exercises, to properly retract the abdomen before any power movement. To make this happen naturally, you can pick up a child. In this case, the deepest transverse abdominal muscles are involved , which encircle the torso and act as a corset.
It is through competent load on this complex of muscles that you can make the stomach smooth and at the same time protect the spine. As for the breathing itself, it is necessary for the correct technique to imagine that the transverse muscles perform the function of an elevator. The next thing to do is to inhale deeply through the nose, while inflating the stomach and filling the lungs with air. An exhalation should be done through the mouth, and during emptying, imagine that the muscles rise up. It is this position of the longitudinal muscles that must be maintained during the performance of strength exercises. For those who are concerned about the question “Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles - how to remove the sprain?”, Such techniques are very relevant.
Types of operations
In order to have an effective impact on a problem such as diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles after childbirth, which is in an advanced stage, surgical treatment is used.
There are several types of surgical intervention used in modern medicine to neutralize the stretching of the white line:
- Tensile plastic, in which mesh endoprosthesis is used. Using a mesh made of synthetic material and fixed at the edges, the problem area is completely covered. As a result, a rather interesting process takes place: the connective tissue grows into the mesh (1-1.5 months), due to which an integral anatomical complex is formed. After a while, he completely becomes a strong connective woven structure (2 mm thick), which is not afraid of more than tangible loads.
- Tension plastic with local fabrics. In this case, the surgeon creates a structure consisting of tissues of the anterior abdominal wall.
Under the conditions of modern medicine, such operations can be performed either by the open method or by using endoscopic techniques (without incisions). It is worth noting that endoscopic hernioplasty is one of the safest and most effective methods of eliminating such a pathology as diastasis of the rectus muscles of the abdomen after childbirth. The treatment performed using this technique has a number of tangible advantages:
- visible scars do not remain;
- the risk of re-development of the disease is minimized (no more than 1%);
- the rehabilitation period is much shorter than in the case of an open surgery;
- there is no pain.
The presence of modern equipment in hospitals and clinics allows you to perform such operations with a high level of accuracy. Therefore, in the process of combating such a problem as diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles after childbirth, surgery is one of the most effective solutions.
Recovery period after surgery
If we consider this type of treatment of connective tissue stretch as stretch plastic, then it makes sense to talk about a longer period of rehabilitation after surgery. At this time, women are strictly forbidden to lift any objects heavier than 10 kg. In addition, during the first three months of recovery you will have to play sports, of course, in moderate form. To do this, you should study in detail the recommended for such a problem as diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles, exercises, and, of course, consult with a qualified doctor. It is also worth considering the fact that for a significant period of time the patient will be disabled.
But if a minimally invasive technique was used to eliminate diastasis, a woman will be able to get out of bed without problems already on the first day. However, you will need to wear a special bandage, which you have to put up with for a month. Another good news is that after minimally invasive surgery, the patient is allowed to leave the clinic the very next day. It is recommended to think about constant physical activity after 14 days from the date of the operation. And after 4-5 weeks you can return to your usual lifestyle.
Correction and prevention methods
If you carefully study issues such as diastasis of the rectus muscles of the abdomen after childbirth, treatment, reviews about it and possible consequences, then we can draw a simple conclusion: if possible, this diagnosis is best avoided. There are a lot of posts on the forums from women concerned about this issue. Therefore, even during pregnancy (and best of all before it), it is worthwhile to pay attention to exercises aimed at strengthening the diaphragm, deep back muscles, all muscles of the press and pelvic floor muscles. As a result, optimal intra-abdominal pressure will be achieved, and the lumbar spine will also stabilize.
In search of an answer to the question: "Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles, how to remove?" (reviews confirm this) it is important not to forget about those exercises that develop the elasticity and flexibility of the anterior abdominal wall. Another important complex is the block of movements that have a strengthening effect on the muscles of the pelvic floor, which, in turn, performs the function of supporting the organs and prevents their displacement in case of increased intra-abdominal pressure.
Thus, the best way to avoid muscle discrepancy is to exercise regularly before pregnancy. There are many systems that offer effective and safe exercises that can strengthen the abs and prevent weakening of the connective tissue. But if an unpleasant diagnosis still makes itself felt, then do not despair, stable training after childbirth and the competent help of a doctor will help to neutralize the problem.