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Discrepancy of the rectus abdominis muscles during pregnancy
A sagging belly that does not go away even after exercise is a problem that most often occurs after childbirth. If during pregnancy there was a discrepancy of the abdominal muscles, diets and habitual abs workouts are powerless. To regain a slender waist in such a situation, you need a special approach.
How does the divergence of the rectus abdominis muscles occur?
The rectus muscles are two vertical muscle cords running from top to bottom in the middle of the abdomen. They are connected to each other by a “white line” in which the navel is located. It is considered the norm when the width of this line does not exceed 2 cm.
Discrepancy of the abdominal muscles often occurs after pregnancy
Diastasis – as doctors call the divergence of muscle cords, which often results from one or more pregnancies. The connective tissues of the abdominal muscles simply diverge from the pressure on them by the growing fetus.
The main signs of a violation:
- bulging rounded belly;
- a navel that has fallen out;
- waist disproportionate in relation to the whole figure;
- recurrent back pain.
The distance between the muscles can appear not only in women who have given birth, but also in those who have a hereditary predisposition to diastasis and do not pay due attention to abdominal training.
There are three degrees of diastasis, depending on how the muscles have dispersed. In the first stage, the width of the “white line” reaches 5-7 cm, in the second, it reaches 10 cm, and in the third, the distance between the muscle cords is more than 10 cm.
What to do if the abdominal muscles diverge
Discrepancy of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy, left unattended, over time can lead to the formation of a hernia, malfunctions of the digestive tract, poor posture and other dangerous consequences. Therefore, at the first suspicion of diastasis, you need to contact a surgeon.
In case of divergence of the abdominal muscles, doctors recommend taking such measures as:
- constantly wear a bandage on the lower back to prevent further expansion of the “white line”;
- exclude lifting the torso or legs from a prone position, twisting, push-ups and other “classic” workouts for the press;
- surgical intervention – at the second or third stage of diastasis.
With muscle divergence, you can do it at home, but training should be aimed at drawing in the abdomen. The best exercises are lying back and pelvic raises, lower back stretches and cat.
We must not forget that an unaesthetically drooping belly is not the only trouble with the appearance of diastasis. In order to prevent the development of diseases, it is imperative to consult with a surgeon, draw up a special training program and strictly adhere to the recommendations.