Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle occurs in the general population and is particularly common in certain groups. Studies have shown that there is a high prevalence in postpartum women, but that it can also occur in newborns and any adult woman or man.
Newborns In the newborn, the rectus abdominis is not fully developed and may not be sealed together at midline. Diastasis recti is more common in
premature newborns. In infants, they typically result from a minor defect of the linea alba between the rectus abdominis muscles. This allows tissue from inside the abdomen to herniate anteriorly. On infants, this may manifest as an apparent 'bubble' under the skin of the belly between the
umbilicus and
xiphisternum (bottom of the breastbone).
Pregnant and Postpartum Women In pregnant or
postpartum women, the condition is caused by the stretching of the rectus abdominis by the growing size of the uterus. It is more common in
multiparous women (women who have had multiple pregnancies) owing to repeated episodes of stretching. When diastasis recti occurs during pregnancy, the uterus can sometimes be seen bulging through the abdominal wall beneath the skin. Another cause can be excessive abdominal exercises after the first trimester of pregnancy. Women are more susceptible to develop diastasis recti when over the age of 35 or with high birth weight of child, multiple birth pregnancy, or multiple pregnancies. Strength training of all the core muscles, including the abdominis recti muscle, may reduce the size of the gap in pregnant or postpartum women.
Crunches may increase the diastasis recti separation. All corrective exercises should be in the form of pulling in the abdominal muscles rather than pushing them outwards. In extreme cases diastasis recti is corrected with a
cosmetic surgery procedure known as an
abdominoplasty by creating a plication, or folding, of the linea alba and suturing it together, which results in a tighter abdominal wall. ==Presentation==