From Core Weakness to Strength

The condition was likely caused by poor form and breathing while weightlifting and had worsened to the point of showing early signs of either a hernia or ulcer.

Once the diagnosis was understood, I was told I would need to rehabilitate my abdominal area with physical therapy. I was also referred to one of the CHDC physical therapists, Dr. Leeat Adlersberg, who would provide the help I was looking for.

A Welcoming Start to Recovery

Dr. Adlersberg works out of the CHDC Barto location where I see my primary care practitioner, Dr. Neliza Lao. The location and scheduling made it easy to meet with her weekly and fit appointments into my work schedule.

From the beginning, Dr. Adlersberg created a comfortable atmosphere that allowed me to be at ease and honest about where I was in life and what work needed to be accomplished to get back to the gym and resume my preferred manner of working out.

Building a Personalized Treatment Plan

We began by taking measurements and documenting the doming that occurred when squatting due to the diastasis recti. After gathering that information, we focused on breathing exercises and therapeutic techniques designed to open my airways and redirect air pressure away from the domed area during physical activity.

Once those airways opened up, I began learning exercises and stretches designed to strengthen my deep core muscles and flatten out the domed area of my midsection. Dr. Adlersberg walked through every exercise with me and provided resources that I could reference between appointments so I could continue performing them correctly and effectively at home.

Seeing Measurable Results

After a month and a half, I am happy to say that I have seen a significant amount of success in rehabilitating my abdominal section. Every measurable aspect of my diastasis recti, including span and depth, decreased by well over 50%, with some measurements improving by more than 75%. I have also experienced increased mobility, as many of the exercises helped open up my hips and allowed my airways to stay more open during squatting.

In the last week, I have been given the green light to begin weightlifting again using lower weights and higher repetitions. This has allowed me to actively apply my deep core and breathing techniques I learned during physical therapy. So far, I have seen some early success! If that progress continues to build, I hope to return to full activity within the next month or two. Dr. Adlersberg has played an instrumental role in my recovery and has given me tools and techniques that I can apply beyond the timeframe of this injury.

Return to the Activities You Love

Dr. Leeat Adlersberg, DPT, PCES, is dedicated to helping patients improve strength, mobility, and function through a personalized, evidence-based approach. Her recent certification as a Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (PCES) addresses the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum individuals, such as those diagnosed with diastasis recti and beyond. The PCES framework addresses the connection between breathing, core function, pelvic floor coordination, posture, and movement quality. This comprehensive approach can help patients reduce pain, improve function, enhance performance, and safely return to desired activities. Pelvic floor therapy can benefit people of all ages and genders, not just pregnancy or postpartum individuals.

CHDC Physical Therapy continues to provide comprehensive rehabilitation services that help patients move better, feel better, and improve their overall quality of life! Learn more about Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy at CHDC.

We want to thank CHDC patient N.C. for sharing their inspiring story.