If you've had a baby, recently or even years ago, and you’re still feeling like your core hasn’t “bounced back,” you’re not alone. Many mums experience a condition called diastasis recti, which means the tummy muscles that separate during pregnancy have not returned to their normal position. It’s not just about appearance. It can affect your core strength, posture, back, and even your pelvic floor.
The good news? It’s treatable. And you don’t have to live with it or “just deal with it.”
At Physiotherapy Torbay, we specialise in diastasis recti treatment in Paignton using gentle, effective, evidence-based physiotherapy. Whether you’ve just had your baby or it’s been several years, we’re here to help you reconnect with your core and feel strong again.
Let’s dive into what diastasis recti really is, how to know if you have it, and what treatment looks like in your local area.
What Exactly Is Diastasis Recti?
During pregnancy, your body does some amazing things, including making room for your growing baby. One of those changes is the stretching of the abdominal muscles to accommodate your bump. As a result, the connective tissue between your rectus abdominis muscles (also known as your “six-pack”) can stretch and thin, causing the muscles to separate. That’s diastasis recti.
While separation is completely normal during pregnancy, in some women the muscles don’t naturally come back together afterwards. This can leave a visible gap, a lingering “domed” tummy, and a host of other symptoms.
Common signs of diastasis recti include:
- A bulge or dome in the middle of your tummy when you sit up or strain
- Ongoing core weakness or instability
- A tummy that still looks 4 to 5 months pregnant even after the 6-week check
- Back, hip, or pelvic pain
- Feeling “unsupported” when lifting or exercising
- Pelvic floor issues like leaks or pressure
It’s not just cosmetic. Diastasis can impact your quality of life both physically and emotionally.
Is Diastasis Recti Really That Common?
Yes. Studies suggest that 100 percent of women experience some degree of abdominal separation during pregnancy. In many cases, the gap narrows naturally postpartum. But for some women, especially after multiple pregnancies, pregnancies that are close together, big babies, C-sections or just simply genetics the gap remains.
Some women only discover they have it years later when they start experiencing symptoms or try to return to exercise.
The truth is, diastasis recti doesn’t always ‘heal’ on its own, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to do something about it.
What Causes Diastasis Recti to Stick Around?
Several factors can contribute to ongoing separation:
- Repetitive straining or poor lifting habits – unable to manage intra-abdominal pressure (IAP)
- Weak deep core muscles or incorrect core engagement
- Returning to intense abdominal exercises too soon, like sit-ups or crunches
- Lack of awareness or guidance postnatally
You didn’t do anything wrong. Most new mums aren’t told about diastasis recti or how to look after their core post-birth. But with the right support, you can absolutely recover.
How Physiotherapy Can Help Heal Diastasis Recti
At Physiotherapy Torbay, our approach is rooted in specialist women’s health physiotherapy. We support local women across Paignton and Torbay with kind, personalised care to help reconnect with their core.
Our treatment is not about flat tummies or bouncing back. It’s about strength, function, and confidence.
Here’s what makes our approach different:
- No “one-size-fits-all” exercise plans
- A private, calm home-based clinic, not a busy gym
- A full-body, functional approach to recovery
- Specialist tools
Physiotherapy works by helping you retrain your deep core and pelvic floor muscles, optimise your posture, control IAP and rebuild strength from the inside out.
Your Tailored Diastasis Recti Treatment Plan
Every woman’s body and journey is unique. That’s why our treatment plans are 100 percent tailored to you.
Treatment may include:
- Deep core engagement techniques
- Safe, progressive postnatal exercises
- Breathing and mobility work – being taught how to manage IAP
- Pelvic floor retraining
- Functional movement training, such as lifting, squatting, or carrying
Sarah will guide you through everything in a way that feels achievable, clear, and empowering, not overwhelming.
And yes, we’ll talk about realistic timelines and long-term maintenance. Healing is a process, not a quick fix.
Is Surgery Ever Necessary?
For most women, surgery isn’t needed. Physiotherapy is highly effective at restoring function and improving symptoms, even in long-standing cases. Surgery is only recommended in rare, severe cases where the separation causes significant daily dysfunction or hasn’t responded to months of conservative treatment.
Our goal is always to try non-invasive methods first and give your body the chance to recover naturally.
Client Stories
“Sarah is a miracle worker! She is friendly, knowledgeable and an absolute genius when it comes to sorting out female health issues. I was anxious about visiting her but fed up with waiting for an NHS appointment so finally plucked up the courage to book an appointment. She immediately put me at ease and I wish I had visited her years ago. Can't recommend her highly enough. Thank you so much Sarah.”
- Emma
“I would highly recommend Sarah. After having my second baby, I found I was needing to see a womens health physio. The NHS waiting list was 16 months and I had got myself in a state about what was going on for me. I found Sarah and was so pleased to find someone locally that could help me. She reassured me that with commitment my situation would improve. She is professional, very knowledgeable and down to earth. She has helped me massively and I am very grateful to her for that.”
- Victoria
Why Local Mums Trust Physiotherapy Torbay
We’re proud to be one of the only dedicated women’s health physiotherapy clinics in Paignton.
Here’s why local mums choose us:
- Qualified physiotherapist with 10+ years’ experience
- Specialist training in postnatal care and scar therapy
- Over 40 five-star Google reviews from Torbay clients
- Home-based clinic with a warm, supportive feel
- Advanced rehab machines for scar and muscle therapy
- Flexible appointment times
We also work closely with women experiencing C-section scars, prolapse, pelvic girdle pain or incontinence, ensuring you get holistic care, not just core exercises.
Book Your Assessment – You Deserve to Feel Strong Again
If you’ve been living with core weakness, tummy doming, or back pain or pelvic pain that just won’t shift, don’t ignore it or write it off as “just a mum thing.”
Help is available, locally and professionally.