Yes, a diastasis can be made smaller with the non- surgical research and evidenced based Tupler Technique® Program. The program focuses on strengthening the connective tissue, so it is then strong enough to hold the muscles in a close together position.

In Julie’s 20 years of experience working with pregnant moms, only a small percentage of pregnant women do not get a diastasis. The Tupler Technique® Program has been shown to make a diastasis smaller even with a growing belly. Getting a diastasis during pregnancy is “normal” but it is best to keep it as small as possible as a large diastasis may put a pregnant woman at risk for an unnecessary C-section.

You know you have a diastasis by the way your belly looks OR by the side effects you may be having from your muscles being separated. If you have a bulging belly, outie belly button or a doming of your abdominal muscles when getting up from a back lying position this is a good indication you have it. Side effects of a diastasis are back pain, bloating after eating, constipation, poor posture, and pelvic floor weakness to name a few.

How long it takes to close your diastasis depends on the severity of your diastasis and your commitment to doing all 4 steps of the Tupler Technique® Program. The program progresses over 18 weeks but if you have a severe diastasis, it will take longer. If you have a small diastasis, it will take less than 18 weeks. Strengthening your connective tissue is not an overnight process. Once you close your diastasis, it is important to do a “diastasis safe” workout to keep it closed.

If a diastasis goes untreated it will only get worse with improper exercises and age. A larger diastasis means a bigger belly and more side effects such as back pain, umbilical hernia, bloating after eating, constipation, poor posture and pelvic floor issues.

No. Men and children can have it as well. Everyone is born with a diastasis. The muscles usually come closer together around three years old after the nervous system has developed. However, with continued force on the weak spot in the connective tissue at the belly button, there is always risk of it opening up again.

The research and evidenced based Tupler Technique® Program treats a diastasis by making the connective tissue strong enough to hold the muscles in a close together position. The program does this by repositioning the connective tissue and muscles, strengthening both the muscles and connective tissue and protecting the weakened connective tissue from getting stretched in a forwards or sideways direction.

You need to wear the splint all the time for the same reason you wear a cast all the time! To continuously keep the stretched out and weakened connective tissue in a narrow position as that is the best position to heal as well do the exercises.

Surgery should be the last resort for treating diastasis recti! Surgery repairs diastasis recti by stitching the connective tissue. The Tupler Technique® Program repairs the connective tissue by strengthening the connective tissue. However, if you do decide to do surgery, the Tupler Technique® should be done beforehand to strengthen the connective tissue so it holds the stitches better and so you can maintain the stitches after the surgery by knowing how to use your abdominal muscles correctly in the recovery process. If your diastasis recti has already been surgically repaired, then doing the Tupler Technique® Program should also be done after your surgery so your stitches don’t come undone.

Wearing the Diastasis Rehab® Splint will NOT weaken your muscles. The purpose of this splint is approximation (pulling together or repositioning) both your muscles and connective tissue. The muscles must be close together to do the exercises correctly. It also puts the connective tissue in a better position to heal. This splint is different from a compression binder whose purpose is compression or to flatten your belly. These binders will weaken your abdominal muscles. Wearing a splint is just one of the 4 steps of the Tupler Technique® Program. You must do all 4 steps of the program to be successful with the program.