Skip to main content

The Splint God Help Me!

It has been since May 11th that I have abandoned wearing my splint. Yes I know, slap me on the wrist. After 10 weeks of all day every day (well 95%) I was completely fed up with it. 10 weeks is a good run, but the lack of support in approximating my recti is noticeable.

I purchased 2 items from the Ardyss line of body shaping garments, the Corset Golden and the T-Shirt Lite. They have been more feminine substitutions for the splint and provide support but only by compression; they do almost nothing to approximate the rectus abdominus. They are supportive, they encourage better posture (something the splint doesn't do), and they definintely flatten and shape; but the approximating design of the splint is more functional from a rehabilitative perspective. Remember what the SPLINT looks like?

All of my clients, myself and my team of trainers struggle with the splint. It does ride up- all day, every day. There is no questioning its effectiveness for what it is designed to do, but the thing becomes uncomfortable to wear! It stretches and I have found the velcro loses it's "adhesiveness" over time. Wearing this splint 12-18 hours/day certainly takes its toll on the fabric. I have washed it, ironed it and starched it, and that does seem to help maintain its shape. I have also put in on slightly damp after a wash and found it shaped well to my body when it dried that way.

Including myself there are 4 people on my roster who are experimenting with alternative supports- corsets, girdles, postnatal belly bands/compression wraps, as well as alternative diastasis rehab garments.  I recently met with Samantha from Core Expectations; we were discussing the splint challenges and the limitations of other body shaping garments for ab rehab. She asked me why I wasn't wearing the splint at least during my workouts, and honestly my answer was laziness. After my email correspondence with Julie Tupler yesterday I was inspired today to put the damn thing back on for my workout. After my shower I threw it back on again for a set of double splinted headlifts, so I'll keep it on for the day and attempt her challenge to see if my abdomen is less distended at the end of the day.

So that's where I am currently at with the splint 16 weeks into the ab rehab program.  I am optimistic I can recommit to the splint to make another big push in closing this diastasis for good! This will reinforce my diligence with my daily headlift sets as well. I will surely continue to use my body shaping garments as substitutions, but I will wear the splint daily even if only when working out.




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I don’t have a Diastasis- Why is my abdomen still distended postpartum?

I get asked this question all the time! Here is my answer:
Research has shown that 100% of pregnant women will develop some degree of diastasis recti. A diastasis is a lateral separation in the abdominal wall between the recti or “six pack”, due to a stretching of the midline connective tissue or “linea alba”. Although some diastasis will heal postpartum, in many cases a separation will remain without restorative exercise.
Distention from DR will present as a doming in the midline. Women who heal a diastasis spontaneously or through restorative exercise may still find that their abdomens are distended, particularly after a meal and/or at the end of the day. If there is no diastasis, why is this?
This abdominal distention does not occur in the midline, but rather across the entire abdominal wall. This is due to a weakened hypotonic TVA- transverse abdominis muscle. The TVA is the deepest anterior abdominal muscle, wrapping around the midsection like a girdle, with a left and right side. T…
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 3 Carb Flush- Ketosis

I am on Day 3 of my pre race carb flush. Here is my food plan for today:
Wednesday:
- Coffee & Banana
<--- Left was my mid day post client meal- chicken chunks, red cabbage and spinach in a white sauce, quinoa.

---> Right was my dinner- raw veggies with homemade mayo, bacon (mmmmm), 2 perogies, edamame.

Tonight I had 1/2 pear, cheddar cheese chunks and 3 thick crackers. O yes and this......

Sangria FTW! :)

I am wrapping up the 3rd and last day of my carb flush. Tomorrow I begin to replenish, Friday is the big homemade pasta dinner we have planned, then Saturday is bean salad and regular program pre-race day. I have completely avoided refined sugar even in my coffee (favouring extra milk over sugar). I will continue this until race day and beyond, now seemingly hyper-mindful of glycemic indexes and performance (from race day to every day!).

The Mississauga Half Marathon Clinic at the Winston Park Dr. Running Room store had its last clinic meet on Tuesday. I loved running with …
Post a Comment
Read more

Nutrition- Soup & Bread!

I could live on soup. Seriously- it is an infusion of goodness full of electrolytes and soluble nutrition. It is hard to f*%$ up soup :) It's a go-to healthy choice. A small serving is very filling. It can be topped with bread, shredded cheese, sour cream or yogurt. It is a 2:00 reheat and great for a fast meal at home. It is a great "healthier" restaurant choice. I order soup all the time! It is delicious :)

Ben made this amazing asparagus and broccoli soup. He brought me 2 containers which = 4 servings for me. I have 2 left for the weekend. It is a jam packing 300 calorie infusion- perfect fuel for training and a healthy food plan. Here is his recipe:
Four cups of each potato, asparagus carrot and broccoli
1 bag of milk
2 cups chicken stock.
I think he blended it.
Serve with greek yogurt.
After adding the cheese I thought it was a bit salty so perhaps 1 cup of stock could be replaced by 1 cup of water? Regardless, this is a simple and delicious healthy recipe to try!

…
Post a Comment
Read more