Barbell Training w/ Significant Abdominal Diastasis Recti

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

My wife was been diagnosed with a 4 finger width diastasis recti and associated umbilical hernia after the birth of our second daughter nearly six years ago. The baby was nearly 10 lbs. and she had significant polyhydramnios on her 5’2" frame.

In the six years since, she has delivered one successful v-neck and had two additional c-sections; the last being 11 months ago. She is interested in barbell training, but concerned her diastasis will prevent her rectus abdominus musculature from being able to support her back while lifting heavy.

Are her concerns warranted?

If we elect surgical repair, will barbell training be an option post surgery with a separation of this magnitude?

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated! Thank you.

2

On the one hand, we don’t have data on diastasis recti and how it affects training outcomes compared to matched controls without the condition. That said, the natural course of diastasis recti is to get better over time with activity, though some may need additional interventions (including surgery) to varying degrees of success. As far as worrying whether or not she will be able to successfully resistance train, I think that she will likely be fine. If she has additional complications or symptoms secondary to her diastsis recti, she’ll want to follow up with her OB on that to see if she is a candidate for additional interventions at that time, but I wouldn’t expect her to do poorly based on this information.