Réhabital
Diastasis Recti: Assessment and Rehabilitation in Côte Saint-Luc
After pregnancy it is normal for the two bands of the abdominal muscles to have separated — that is what makes room for the baby. The problem starts when the midline never regains its tension, so the belly domes under effort, the core feels weak and low back pain often follows. At Réhabital in Côte Saint-Luc, on the island of Montréal, we measure the gap, focus on the tension of the linea alba and build a realistic loading progression that fits life with a baby.
Book an AppointmentUnderstanding This Condition
Diastasis recti is a widening of the linea alba, the connective tissue joining the two halves of the abdominal wall. One point is often misunderstood: the width of the gap matters less than the ability of that tissue to generate tension. Two people with the same three-finger gap can function completely differently — one with a wall that stays firm under load, the other with a soft hollow that fingers sink into. We therefore measure at rest and under contraction, at three levels above and below the navel. Diastasis is also a pressure-management problem: every time you hold your breath, strain or sit straight up out of bed, intra-abdominal pressure is directed at the midline. That is why breathing and coordination with the pelvic floor sit at the centre of treatment. It must be distinguished from a true umbilical hernia, which shows a localized bulge with a palpable ring and requires medical assessment, and from loose skin, which exercise cannot correct.
Common Symptoms
Common Causes
Pregnancy and stretching of the linea alba
The growing uterus progressively stretches the linea alba over months. In most women it recoils spontaneously within the first eight weeks; when it does not, targeted rehabilitation is needed.
Multiple or closely spaced pregnancies
Successive pregnancies without adequate recovery leave connective tissue little time to regain tension, increasing the likelihood of a persistent diastasis.
Poor intra-abdominal pressure management
Breath-holding under effort, sitting straight up from lying, straining on the toilet or returning too quickly to sit-ups drives pressure into the midline and maintains the separation.
Loss of coordination between diaphragm, deep abdominals and pelvic floor
These three form one pressure system. When their timing is lost, the transverse abdominis no longer generates the tension needed to draw the two muscle bands together.
Non-pregnancy factors
Significant abdominal weight gain, heavy lifting without breath control, or connective tissue predisposition can also produce a diastasis, including in men.
Our Treatment Approach
With Shahram Ghasemi, MD (Iran), DOMP, we begin by measuring the gap at three levels, at rest and under contraction, and by watching how the midline behaves during a real task: getting up, lifting the baby, coughing. Osteopathic treatment addresses diaphragm and lower rib mobility, cesarean scar tension externally, pelvic and lumbar mobility, and release of muscles pulling the wall asymmetrically. Alongside that you progress through four stages: restore a breath that manages pressure, reactivate the deep abdominals in coordination with the pelvic floor, add load in stable positions, then integrate real-life movements such as lifting, carrying and pushing a stroller. Massage therapy with Irina Kushnir, Jeanne Andrea Rahantamalala or Cedik Elaiba relieves the upper back and neck tension that comes with carrying and feeding. Naturopathy with Elena Caliniuc, ANHQ, can support tissue recovery, digestion and postpartum energy. Physiotherapy is coming soon to the clinic.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
The first visit runs about 60 minutes: pregnancy and delivery history, diastasis measurement, assessment of breathing, pelvic floor externally, pelvis and back, then hands-on treatment and two foundational exercises. We record your measurements so they can be compared objectively at six and twelve weeks. You leave knowing what is safe to do now and what should wait.
At-Home Self-Care Tips
- Get out of bed by rolling to your side rather than folding forward.
- Exhale during effort when lifting your baby or an object.
- Temporarily avoid sit-ups, full planks and crunches.
- Do the breathing and deep activation drills every day.
- Alternate arms and carrying positions with the baby.
- Avoid straining on the toilet and use a footstool.
Prognosis & Recovery Timeline
Most postpartum diastasis cases improve substantially in function within 3 to 6 months with well-dosed progression, even when the measured gap does not fully close: tension and function matter more than the number. Very wide gaps above the navel, separations persisting after several pregnancies, or those accompanied by a hernia respond less completely to rehabilitation alone and warrant a surgical opinion if functional or cosmetic concern remains after a well-followed program.
When to See Us at Réhabital
Come in if your belly still domes more than eight weeks after delivery, if you feel core weakness or low back pain when carrying your baby, or if you want to resume training without making things worse. See a physician for a painful localized bulge at the navel, severe abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, which can signal a strangulated hernia.
Why Réhabital Clinic
In Côte Saint-Luc, on the island of Montréal, we refuse to promise to 'close the gap in 30 days'. We measure, progress through verifiable stages and adapt the plan to the reality of someone lifting a baby many times a day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Address
D4-5800 Cavendish Blvd
Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4W 2T5
Phone
(438) 842-3550Hours
Mon–Fri: 10AM–8PM
Sun: 10AM–4PM
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