KANGAROO FITNESS

What Is Diastasis Recti?

Kangaroo Fitness is Canada's first and only provider of the Tupler Technique™ - the only research-based program that can heal diastasis recti WITHOUT surgery and WITHOUT crunches!

Women can do the Tupler Technique™ during pregnancy in preparation for a natural birth or a C-Section. Women whose last pregnancy was 40 years ago can also do the program. Men can also have diastasis recti and will benefit from the Tupler Technique™. Even children can do the Tupler Technique™. Its for everybody and every belly!

Diastasis recti could be the reason for your belly. What is diastasis recti?

Diastasis Recti is the separation of your outermost abdominal muscle - the rectus abdominus. This muscle is responsible for supporting your back and your organs. The two halves of the muscle are joined together by a piece of connective tissue. When the muscle separates, the connective tissue stretches sideways and becomes thinner and weaker. Now, instead of muscle you have that weak and stretched out connective tissue supporting your back and organs. Your organs now have free reign and are bulging against the connective tissue causing that prodruding belly and/or belly button that just does not seem to go away. We call this the Mummy Tummy or Guy Gut (Yes, men can have this, too!). You might have lower back pain that is related to the diastasis. Instead of muscle, you have connective tissue supporting your back which really does not make for a very good support system. A diastasis contributes to an overall weakness of your core resulting in muscular and postural imbalances making you more prone to injury while doing any kind of activity.

Abdominal trauma to the connective tissue can cause the connective tissue to separate from the muscle. This is a ventral hernia and requires surgery.

A diastasis can even affect your birth experience: A large diastasis on a pregnant woman causes the uterus to tilt forward (because there is only connective tissue and no muscle holding the uterus in place) which puts the cervix out of alignment with the vagina. This makes pushing the baby out vaginally much more difficult.

Do I have diastasis recti?

You are back to your pre-pregnancy weight but just can't get rid of that belly. This is diastasis recti. Your belly button was always an 'innie' but is now an 'outie'. That is diastasis recti. It might even be an umbilical hernia and they can be fixed with the Tupler Technique. During pregnancy you might see a cone coming out of your belly when you crunch up and/or your belly button sticks out. That is diastasis recti. You might have back pain and/or gastrointestinal problems in addition to these things. You (man or woman) might have had toned abs from doing lots of crunches but gained some weight and now have a prominent belly. That is diastasis recti. You might have lost the weight but not lost the belly. That is diastasis recti. A large diastasis is visible when you see a 'football' coming out of your belly when you crunch up.

Everybody is born with a diastasis. Whether it closes depends on the amount of force or pressure on the connective tissue. If the muscles close, they are always at risk for separating again with continuous force on the connective tissue. Force can be caused by weight gain in the abdominal area, the growing uterus during pregnancy or by doing the wrong abdominal exercises. Crunches and Pilates 100's are the worst enemy of the connective tissue. These exercises make your diastasis worse and can actually create one if you don't have one. Even our much-loved plank isn't the connective tissue's best friend when you have a diastasis.

How to check for a diastasis?

A diastasis can be checked both during and after pregnancy. Lie on your back with your knees bent and start by placing your middle 3 fingers above the belly button (all fingers pointing towards your toes). Keep your abdominals relaxed as you lift your head. The goal is to feel the two halves of the recti muscle coming together. You measure how many fingers you can fit in between and also how deep you can go. The deeper you can put your fingers towards your spine, the weaker your connective tissue. Also check 3 inches above your belly button and 3 inches below. You will get different readings at each spot.

If you cannot feel the edges of the two muscles, use more fingers. If you can see a 'football' coming out of your belly as you lift your head, you might need to use two hands to measure your diastasis. The more you bring your head or shoulders up, the more the muscles will come together giving you a false reading. The true size of your diastasis is when you measure as soon as the muscles start coming together.

Watch a video on how to check your belly.

What is the Tupler Technique™?

The Tupler Technique™ is a research-based, 4 step program that heals or prevents diastasis recti. The 4 steps are done over the course of 6 weeks and beyond and include strengthening your transverse with specific exercises (Elevator, Contractions and Headlift), wearing the Diastasis Rehab Splint™, getting up and down correctly and learning to use the transverse with everything you do.

Research undertaken by the Physical Therapy Department of Columbia University has confirmed the effectiveness of the program. It is thereby the only research based program that is proven to heal diastasis recti with exercise and the only alternative to surgery!

The Tupler Technique™ is not only a program that you follow for a few weeks and then forget about! You get a new insight into the functionality of your abdominals and the results will have an impact on the way you carry yourself throughout the rest of your life. Literally.

It works on anybody. Women and men. It doesn't matter for how long you have had your diastasis.

What can benefit from the Tupler Technique™?

Anyone with diastasis recti
Pregnant women
Women who had a C-section and women prior to a scheduled C-section
Women who had multiples
Anyone prior to abdominal surgery
Anyone after abdominal surgery
Anyone with chronic back pain
Anyone with GI tract and bladder issues
Women with pelvic floor disfunction
Men post prostate surgery
Anyone with umbilical hernias
Anyone who needs a stronger core

What do I need to do the Tupler Technique™?

You need the DVD (for women, for men, during pregnancy, for surgery), the Diastasis Rehab Splint and the guidebook. You can buy that as a package in my online store and get a $10 discount.

The best way to learn the Tupler Technique® is by attending a seminar or workshop or with an individual session. I recommend to watch the DVD before starting to work with me as this will give you a head start and make learning at the seminar, workshop or individual session more effective.