Diastasis / abs question

[earlydoors42]

I have had 4 babies and after the last one, saw a women's physio who showed me how to pull my stomach muscles back together as had split diastasis recti (?).

Now several years on, when I exercise, I can pull the gap almost closed while doing sit ups etc. But when I relax, both sides move way apart from each other. I have a pot belly despite being fairly slim.

I just want to know is this normal? Is that what they are meant to do or are they meant to stsy together all the time? As i get better abs will they hold themselves together more or should i try something else?

Thanks for any info!

When you lie down, knees in a tent position, when you lift your head and shoulders, can you feel a gap down the centre? Or get any fingers between the edges of the muscle wall? If there is no gap, then there is no diastasis

Forgot to add, if you do have a diastasis you should not be doing sit ups as they actually make it worse.

The abs work needed is very targeted around the transverse and oblique muscles that are around the sides of the central 6 pack area.

Sorry missed reply! Thank you. When I lie down like you said, I can pull my muscles together so there is very little gap. But when I stop pulling, they move apart leaving a gap. So as i lift my head and shoulders, they come together from a few fingers width apart. I wasn't sure if they are meant to be together all the time?