Can men get a diastasis recti?  The answer is unequivocally, YES!

But wait!  You may be thinking – they don’t get pregnant, so how can they get a diastasis recti?

A diastasis recti is created from a foreward forceful movement or pressure of the abdominals.  (It can also be exacerbated by the thrusting of the ribs and stretching of the connective tissue.)

What kind of foreward forceful movments or pressure would impact the abdominals of a man?

1. INCORRECT ABDOMINAL EXERCISES – foreward forceful movement
2. BEER BELLY – constant foreward forceful pressure
3. GASTRIC DISTRESS – foreward forceful pressure from imflammation of the internal organs due to food, gastroverticulitis, etc

Client JS story:

This client is a firefighter, had been doing Crossfit for awhile, and found out he had a diastasis recti.  This client decided to do extra sets of the Seated Tupler Contractions (THE exercise for closing the diastasis recti, as long as its done CORRECTLY).  Instead of doing 5 the first week he did around 8 each day.  He had good technique with the Seated Tupler Contractions  as well – VERY important to get the proper results. He decided to PAUSE doing Crossfit until he could close AND start healing the diastasis recti, which is recommended so this part of the body can CLOSE *AND* HEAL.

During a workshop, we always measure the diastasis and the waist measurements, as well as look at the connective tissue condition between the two halves of the recti and do a belly button and hernia eval.

Client JS measured:

WAIST:

40 inches on the upper ab measurement

41.5 at the navel measurement,

40 in the lower abdominal measurement.

DIASTASIS:

5 fingerwidth upper diastasis measurement with moderate connective tissue

3 fingerwidth navel diastasis measurement with shallow connectie tissue

6.5 fingerwidth lower diastasis measurement with moderate connective tissue

DAY TWO OF WORKSHOP:

When we measured him on Day 2 of the workshop, he was almost completely closed!  He had PAUSED crossfit to strengthen the transverse and to close the diastasis.

He measured:

WAIST:

37.75 inches on the upper ab measurement

37.85 inches at the navel measurement

37.75 inches in the lower abdominal measurement.

DIASTASIS:

0 fingerwidths “closed” upper diastasis measurement with moderate connective tissue

0 fingerwidths or “closed” navel diastasis measurement with shallow connective tissue

0.5 fingerwidth lower diastasis measurement with moderate connective tissue

DAY THREE OF WORKSHOP

WOW!  What a transformation!  Client JS caught the day 3 of the following workshop due to work, so it had been 6 weeks after DAY 2.

WAIST:

35.6 inches on the upper ab measurement

35.6 inches at the navel measurement,

35.6 inches in the lower abdominal measurement.

DIASTASIS

0 fingerwidths “closed” upper diastasis measurement with moderate connective tissue

0 fingerwidths or “closed” navel diastasis measurement with shallow connective tissue

0.5 fingerwidth lower diastasis measurement with moderate connective tissue

So we saw a 16.5 inch decrease in his waist measurements!

So what was client JS doing?

During these 8 weeks, Client JS followed the Tupler Technique® Guidebook, wore the Tupler® Splint doing extra sets of contractions on many days.He was still PAUSING Crossfit until everything was closed.  He also decided to do a great compliment with Tupler Technique® which is CARDIO! He started running stairs and running in general at the same time.

Men and Women can both close their diastasis recti at ANY TIME!  There is no statute of limiations.  I see people from age 10 to 84 who have closed their diastasis!!

Any other firefighters willing to take on the Tupler Technique® Challenge??