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Ask an Expert- Julie Tupler's Opinion and a Challenge!

For ALL of my diastasis clients out there, here is an email correspondence of interest. I wrote to Julie Tupler with this question, on behalf of all of us:

"Hello Julie. My name is Kate and I work with Samantha Montpetit-Huynh at Core Expectations as a pre and postnatal trainer. I have several postpartum clients (and I am 6 months postpartum myself with baby #2) who have diastasis they are working to close. We all notice that early in the day our abdominals seem flat, but as the day progresses we become more distended and by evening we feel and appear very distended. In your opinion is this because of our separations? Can you suggest a reason why this is happening? The obvious would be that our stomachs are fuller resulting in more pressure on the separation, and perhaps our abdominals are more tired by the day's end and so engage less? The time range is 6-12 months postpartum.

I just thought I'd ask your expert opinion.

Thanks in advance,
Sincerely,
Kate Rita, PTS, PFS"

"Kate
Yes that is a common occurrance.
Just think of all the forward forceful movements your abs are doing during the course of the day. Do an experiment. Wear the splint all day and engage the transverse on the work of everything you do and make sure the transverse goes to 5th floor on the exhale part of every breath you take. Then tell me if it is the same in the evening. I look forward to the results of your experiment

Have a great weekend
Julie Tupler RN" 

I am going to try her suggestion and I'll post my observations. If you try it too, please leave a comment regarding your experience!




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  1. KateJune 21, 2010 at 5:36 PM

    After following Julie's instructions (as much as I was able to) for 2 days straight, I will say that I felt and appeared 100% less distended by the evening. It really renews my conviction in the effectiveness of the splint and the importance of active body/core awareness in the abdominal rehabilitation process!

    Have you tried this challenge yet?

    ReplyDelete

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