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View Full Version : Stomach Muscle Separation



kelliebelly
09-25-2006, 08:44 AM
When I was researching my TT I wanted to find out if there were ways of improving my stomach muscles so I could avoid the muscle repair side of it which really is the most painful of it.
I researched and consulted with different plastic surgeons and personal trainers. What I found out is -
If you have muscle separation ( which you can find out by doing the finger test, here is a copied example - During pregnancy if a woman lifts her head she might see a little bulge; she will know she has a diastasis. Both during and after pregnancy a woman can check herself for this by lying on her back with her knees bent, heels close to the buttocks; then she puts her fingers pointing down towards her pubic bone into her belly button. She presses down and slowly lifts her head. If she feels a hole in the middle as she lifts her head she knows that she has a diastasis. She can also check three inches below her belly button and three inches above her belly button. The fingers must be pointing down when she is checking herself. ) Link to Mummy Tummy, info on separation and good stuff on ab exercises that dont help etc http://www.webmd.com/content/chat_transcripts/1/106218.htm?pageNumber=1
Certain ab exercises, and ab exercises performed incorrectly will only make the separation worse. Remember I was told this by several pros...dont shoot the messenger :)
I just thought some of you might be interested in reading the article.

DonnaB
10-01-2006, 12:36 PM
Thanks for the link Kellie. I don't have children but I found the information interesting anyway.

I'm not really sure what the exercise is - it's hard to figure out how to achieve the "pulses." Did you understand that? The other frustrating thing about the discussion is that she never explained what exactly IS the proper way to get in and out of bed!

It's good information and at the very least I should be able to figure out if I have abdominal muscle separation. Having no children and rarely exercising (properly or improperly!) makes me think I'm probably OK. This is the first time not exercising has been in my favor! lol

Thanks again.

Jachut
10-01-2006, 03:11 PM
I was lucky to never suffer from this despite all my babies being 10 pounders. When you're pregnant its a blessing to be tall - no stretchmarks, no stomach muscle separation and you only get heartburn when your recalcitrant daughter decides to hang around in there the wrong way round.