You may notice your belly feels unsupported during daily tasks. You may see a gap down the midline of your abdomen or feel a bulge when you sit up or lift something. Maybe you’ve tried “core workouts,” but nothing seems to change.
These signs often point to diastasis recti, a separation of the abdominal muscles that’s more common and more manageable than you might think.
At In Step Physical Therapy, we provide dedicated, individualized Physiotherapy for Diastasis Recti in Edmonton, focusing on your recovery, comfort, and confidence without guessing or gimmicks.
Diastasis recti happens when the connective tissue (linea alba) between your left and right abdominal muscles stretches and loses tension. This creates a visible or palpable gap, often referred to as a “tummy gap.”
It can occur due to:
the abdominal wall stretches to accommodate the growing uterus
improper bracing or high intra-abdominal pressure
from coughing, poor posture, or repetitive bending
affecting tissue elasticity and core control
Though most common after pregnancy, diastasis recti affects both women and men, and can persist long after birth, surgery, or major weight changes if left unaddressed.
The most common symptoms include:
If you’re dealing with any of the above, it’s time to explore proper diastasis recti treatment, not generic workouts, but a focused recovery plan that helps you rebuild your core from the inside out.
Unlike standard fitness routines, Physiotherapy for Diastasis Recti in Edmonton at In Step Physical Therapy is:
We don’t chase shortcuts. We guide you through a safe, progressive approach that respects your body’s current condition and future goals.
Your care begins with a comprehensive pelvic and abdominal assessment. From there, we design your plan using these core elements:
Before you can strengthen your core, you must retrain the connection between your breath, pelvic floor, and deep abdominal muscles (like the transverse abdominis). We’ll teach you how to coordinate these systems in real-time.
Many clients with diastasis recti also experience pelvic floor dysfunction. We assess your pelvic health and provide therapy for issues like:
By including pelvic floor physiotherapy, we improve the synergy between your deep core muscles and support true recovery.
Diastasis often worsens due to postural strain or poor mechanics. We’ll help you:
Forget generic ab exercises. We guide you through specific stages of core rehab, starting with gentle, precise movements and progressing to dynamic strengthening. This includes:
Each phase builds stability before adding load, helping you return to fitness or function safely.
If scar tissue, tight fascial lines, or postural restrictions are limiting your progress, we may use manual techniques to release tension and improve tissue mobility around the abdomen and ribs.
We provide guidance on:
Our goal is to empower you with tools not just for clinic success but for lifelong core health.
You don’t need a six-week checkup or a postpartum label to start care. If your core doesn’t feel like it used to or if you’re just not sure, physiotherapy may help.
We support:
Many people assume diastasis recti is just about the “gap” in your stomach or a cosmetic issue after pregnancy. But this condition can create a ripple effect throughout your entire body, from your breathing to your pelvic stability, and even how your limbs move.
Here’s how:
The core and diaphragm work together to support both posture and breath. When the abdominal wall loses tension:
Our physiotherapists work with breath training techniques to restore this coordination, helping you breathe more efficiently while protecting your core.
The abdominal wall is one of the key stabilizers of the spine. When it’s weakened or stretched:
We integrate postural retraining, functional movement cues, and core-bracing drills to reduce these downstream effects.
Because the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles work as a unit, dysfunction in one area often affects the other. Diastasis recti can lead to:
That’s why pelvic health physiotherapy is often a part of your diastasis care. We aim to restore synergy between the core and pelvic floor so you can move with ease, confidence, and strength.
Nope, anyone with repeated intra-abdominal pressure or core strain can experience it.
Wrong again, traditional crunches often worsen the gap.
It’s a functional issue. Without support, diastasis can lead to hernias, pelvic dysfunction, and back pain.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Recovery depends on the degree of separation, how long you’ve had it, and what your daily demands are.
But here’s what we do know: With structured guidance and the right exercises, diastasis recti recovery is not only possible, it’s sustainable.
Our team walks with you every step of the way, helping you rebuild your core safely and confidently.
Physiotherapy for Diastasis Recti in Edmonton at In Step Physical Therapy is more than just rehab; it’s empowerment. Whether you’re a new parent, an athlete, or simply tired of guessing what’s safe for your core, we’re here to help.
If you’re searching for lasting diastasis recti treatment, let’s take the next step together.
Yes, it can. Because the abdominal wall supports internal organs, separation may affect digestive function and cause visible bloating, especially by day’s end. Physiotherapy can help improve this through posture correction and core support training.
No. While postpartum cases are common, men, weightlifters, and even teen athletes can develop abdominal separation due to chronic pressure on the abdominal wall (e.g., heavy lifting, improper form, obesity, or repeated straining).
Yes, but it requires proper guidance. Some conventional exercises (like crunches or planks) may worsen the separation if done too early. A physiotherapist guides you through safe core rehab, including transverse abdominis activation and progressive load-bearing.
It can. Weak or unsupported abdominal muscles increase intra-abdominal pressure, which may contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction or prolapse. That’s why pelvic floor physiotherapy is often integrated into diastasis rehab.
Binders can provide temporary support, but won’t correct the separation on their own. In fact, overuse may cause dependence and weaken your core muscles further if not combined with guided rehab.
In many cases, yes. With targeted physiotherapy and time, especially within the first year postpartum or post-injury, the muscles can restore functional strength and alignment without surgery. Severe cases may need surgical consultation, but that’s not the default path.
