Rectus Diastasis Consultation

Rectus diastasis, also known as a ‘tummy gap’, is the separation of the abdominal muscles. It is caused by stretching and thinning of the soft tissue (linea alba) in the centre of the abdomen that divides the right and left abdominal muscles. It occurs in around 66% of pregnancies, typically in the third trimester, and is a normal effect of making room for the growing baby.

For many women the gap does narrow naturally in the weeks and months after birth, but for some it does not fully resolve. A specialist physiotherapy assessment can determine the degree of separation and guide the right exercises to support recovery. Doing the wrong exercises can actually worsen diastasis, so it is important to seek expert advice.

Your practitioner will ask about your medical history, including any previous pregnancies or surgeries and any symptoms you are experiencing. They will then perform a physical examination, palpating the abdominal muscles to feel for separation and assess your overall core function. Based on the findings, they will recommend a treatment plan.

Treatment typically includes specific exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles and improve core function, alongside guidance on which movements and exercises to avoid. In severe cases that don’t respond to physiotherapy, surgery may be considered. Our specialist physiotherapists will monitor your progress and guide your safe return to training.

Yes. It is never too late to address rectus diastasis. Whether your separation is recent or many years old, a specialist postnatal physiotherapist can assess your condition and prescribe the right exercises to help close the gap and restore core function.

Many women instinctively do sit-ups, crunches or planks to ‘close the gap’, but these exercises can actually overwork the tummy muscles, increase pressure on the linea alba and worsen the separation. A specialist postnatal physiotherapist will teach you the right exercises and ensure your safe return to more challenging training.