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Conditions We Treat  /  Diastasis Recti

Women's Health

Diastasis Recti Treatment in Bakersfield

A gap or ridge down the middle of your belly after pregnancy is called diastasis recti. It's very common, and the right core and pelvic floor training can help you feel strong again.

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Yes, physical therapy can help diastasis recti. Some separation of the abdominal muscles is a normal part of late pregnancy, and for many women it narrows in the months after birth. When it doesn’t, or when it comes with back pain, a bulge or a weak-feeling core, physical therapy retrains your deep core and pelvic floor to work together so you can lift, exercise and move with confidence. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one.

Does this sound like you?

✓A ridge or “tent” down the middle of your belly when you sit up
✓A soft gap above or below your belly button
✓A belly “pooch” that exercise hasn’t changed
✓Low back pain or a core that feels weak
✓Ribs that flare out, or a sway in your lower back
✓Leaking or pelvic heaviness along with it
✓Unsure which exercises are safe to go back to

Why it happens

During pregnancy, the tissue down the middle of your abdomen (the linea alba) stretches to make room for your baby, and the two sides of the “six-pack” muscle move apart. Multiple pregnancies, a large baby or twins, and how you strain and lift can all make the separation wider or slower to recover.

The width of the gap isn’t the whole story. How well your deep core muscles create tension across it, and how your breathing and pelvic floor work with them, matters as much for how your belly looks and functions. Research on the best exercises is still developing, but guided, progressive core and pelvic floor training is the standard approach.

Is it always diastasis recti?

No. Not every belly that sticks out after pregnancy is diastasis recti. Often there is no real gap, but the deep muscle that stabilizes your core has gotten weak. That changes your posture: the ribs flare out at the front and the lower back sways forward, which pushes the belly out and can look a lot like diastasis.

This kind of weakness is just as treatable. That’s why we check both your belly gap and your posture before we build your plan.

What treatment at ARI looks like

1
A one-on-one evaluation

Your first visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We measure the gap and how much tension your core can create across it, and check your breathing, posture, pelvic floor, and how you lift your baby or car seat.

2
Deep core and pelvic floor training

Exercises that teach your deep abdominal muscles, breathing and pelvic floor to work together, progressed step by step so your core gets stronger without bulging.

3
Back to everything

Safe ways to lift, carry and get in and out of bed, and a plan to return to workouts, running or sport, with a home program between visits.

No referral needed to start. In California, you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage; call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.

When to see a doctor first

See your doctor if you have:

  • A bulge at or near your belly button that is painful, firm, or won’t go back in, which can be a hernia
  • Redness, swelling or drainage from a C-section scar
  • Fever or worsening pain after delivery

Why patients choose ARI

Care at ARI is always one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

Diastasis recti FAQs

No. Many women improve their core strength and function years after pregnancy. It's never too late to start.
Often yes, eventually. Your therapist will show you how to tell whether an exercise is right for you now, and progress you toward harder core work as your control improves.
Most women don't. Surgery is sometimes considered for a very wide separation or a hernia, but physical therapy is the usual first step.
No. In California you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage, so call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.
Gentle breathing and core exercises can usually begin in the early weeks after delivery, once your doctor says it's okay. We tailor the plan to how you delivered and how you're recovering.

Common questions

Ready to feel better?

Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.

Request an EvaluationCall (661) 282-8584

Sources

  1. Diastasis recti. MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
  2. Exercise After Pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.

Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed October 2026