Can I get male diastasis recti repair? (photo)

Question

Hi. I am a 64 year old male recently diagnosed with diastasis recti, which appears to be at the3 to 4 inch range. The physical therapist some exercises to do and the surgeon advised to "lose some weight". Now my question is, could the diastasis be a result of constipation (pushing has been severe at times) , considering I've had the problem since I was a child, and not necessarily due to obesity? Will I be able to repair this by exercise and weight loss, or is this just false hope?

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Diastasis recti can actually be increased with muscle strain (for example, during a crunch). The condition can be caused by dramatic weight fluctuations or, for women, pregnancy. Constipation may not be a cause. The only way to repair diastasis recti is surgery. Losing weight may help flatten your stomach a bit, but it will not positively affect your diastasis recti.

Ronald Levine, MD · Answer

Diastasis recti can be effectively repaired with a tummy tuck. You can try exercises designed to correct it, but I'm not sure how much success you would have. Your condition may have been caused by trauma.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Nice personal photo but of no real value. Seek in person opinions and care from GI docs and ONLY surgery can repair a severe diastasis.

Ramon Navarro, MD · Answer

if you follow wining weight this problem could be a herniae, exercises and diet help to avoid to convert it.avoid utilizing phsiculturism lifting extra weights, better choose dancing, pilates, yoga,,swiming and  some  abdominal jobs

	so the problem it is not  serious at this moment and definetely it is not related to constipation.

	of course if this worries to you may be operated on and corrected

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

If your rectus muscles have been stretched out, then surgery would be required to repair them. Exercise and weight loss will have no effect on a diastasis. I would defer to the gastroenderologists as to the effect of chronic constipation on this condition, although I sincerely doubt it.

Can I get male diastasis recti repair? (photo)

Answers (5)