The Missing Piece in Diastasis Recti Recovery

If you’ve been told you have diastasis recti and feel frustrated that your core still doesn’t feel strong—or that exercises aren’t helping—you’re not alone.

One of the most important shifts in how clinicians understand diastasis recti comes from physiotherapist, Diane Lee who describes it not simply as a gap between the abdominal muscles, but as a problem with how the linea alba transfers load and tension across the abdominal wall. In other words, diastasis recti is often a functional issue, not just a structural one.

Why This Matters for Your Recovery

Many people focus only on closing the gap—but still experience:

• Abdominal doming or bulging

• Back or pelvic pain

• A core that feels weak, unstable, or overly tight

• Difficulty returning to exercise or daily activities

That’s because if the deeper core muscles aren’t coordinating well, the body often compensates by gripping with surface muscles. This can actually make things feel worse, not better.

How We Rebuild the Core

Recovery isn’t about rushing into strengthening. It follows a progression:

1. Reconnecting deep stabilizers and improving coordination

2. Gradually adding load and endurance without losing control

3. Training automatic muscle response for real-life movement

The goal isn’t simply an unexamined “braced” core—it’s one that adapts, supports, and works without constant effort.

⸻Curious What Your Core Is Actually Doing?

If you’re unsure whether your diastasis recti is healing—or why progress feels stalled—a personalized assessment with District PT can give you clarity.

We’ll help you understand:

• What your abdominal wall is doing under load

• Where support is breaking down

• What stage of retraining your body truly needs to integrate back into the activities you love

A proper assessment looks beyond finger widths and asks:

• Can your abdominal wall generate tension?

• Can it transfer load when you move?

• How do your deep muscles respond when your trunk is challenged?

• Where does control break down under effort?

These answers guide how your core should be retrained—because not everyone needs the same exercises or the same starting point.

👉 If you want to know why your core feels the way it does—and what to do next—this is where an in-person assessment makes all the difference!