The most common question I get asked by postnatal clients who have a diastasis recti (separation of the rectus abdominis, the outer '6 pack' muscle) is:-
'How am I going to close the gap?’
There are so many articles out there focusing on closing the gap but actually when it comes to diastasis recti the size of the gap is not as important as the ability to generate tension in the gap.
If you can feel tension in the gap then your transverse abdominis (deep core muscle) is switching on and doing it's job by transferring load and providing appropriate support for the internal organs.
You can still have a gap/diastasis recti but if you can get tension in that gap (this is called a functional diastasis recti) and you're not experiencing any doming or coning in the mid line then you dont need to be too concerned.
It's way better to have a 4 finger gap but with good tension in that gap than it is to have a 1 or 2 finger gap but no tension whatsoever.
