The following symptoms and complaints may indicate rectus diastasis:
Leading symptom
- Intrusion of the straight abdominal muscles (Mm. recti abdominis) in the area of the linea alba.Note: The resulting gap in the middle of the abdomen is palpable.
* The linea alba is a vertical suture of connective tissue in the middle of the abdomen, extending from the processus xiphoideus (lower part of the sternum) to the symphysis pubica (pubic symphysis). It is usually 1-2 cm wide.
Predilection sites (areas of the body where the disease preferentially occurs).
- Woman/pregnant woman:
- Rectus diastasis is most pronounced in the navel area (length: 1-20 cm); sometimes it extends from the costal arch to the pubic bone (lat. Os pubis).
- Man:
- Limited occurrence in the area above the navel.
Rectus Diastasis Self Test
- Lie on your back with your body relaxed and your legs straight up.
- Lower two fingers vertically below the navel into the soft abdominal wall.
- Raise the head slightly until you feel a slight tightening of the two abdominal muscles.
- Now check the distance, that is, that standing apart of the straight abdominal muscles. Feel, to determine the extension, the gap to the pubic symphysis.
- A normal distance is one to two fingers wide.
