Managing Diastasis Recti Based On Current Research

The MBY Education Synergy Series Presents

Managing Diastasis Recti Based On Current Research & Clinical Expertise: An Update for Pilates Movement Professionals

Melanie Byford-Young Presents Diane Lee

Friday, June 14, 3 pm - 5 pm PST

Livestreaming on Zoom

This session will be recorded and available to all registrants for 7 days.

Melanie is thrilled to have the opportunity to host Diane Lee to share current perspectives on the science and art of managing rectus diastasis. Many women, and men, develop a separation of the linea alba and/or rectus abdominis of varying sizes and magnitudes of dysfunction. Over the years, the study of how to measure, interpret and manage a DRA has evolved, and yet there are still misconceptions and divergent opinions. During this presentation, Diane Lee will share her wealth of knowledge on the topic of Diastasis (DRA). This presentation will help movement professionals understand the current science, interpret the literature, and update their Pilates approach.

Click button below to register.

This workshop is for:

Pilates movement professionals & PTs who work one-on-one with clients
2 + year teaching experience recommended
Injuries & Special Populations recommended

Friday, June 14, 2024

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm PST

$250

Livestreamed online via ZOOM & access to recorded video for one week. Price includes powerpoint handout.

Diane Lee's Presentation Overview

Title: The Inter-recti distance and Diastasis Rectus Abdominis: Is the IRD a valid measurement to inform care for DRA?

There are many unknowns surrounding diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA), particularly whether intervention should aim to reduce the inter-recti distance (IRD) or improve the transmission of force between sides, which reduces the distortion of the linea alba but with increased IRD; whether IRD changes over time; and the factors that influence management choices. The IRD is often measured in research at a limited number of time points; whereas clinically it is measured at almost every visit. Decisions for prognosis of severity of DRA, intervention (training vs surgery), and outcome over time (what happens to the width of this gap) are often based on this measure.

Evolving evidence, and clinical experience, support that there is no validity for the sole use of the IRD in this condition. In other words, the distance or gap, between the recti are not a valid indicator for

1.     Classification of severity of DRA
2.     How to intervene/prescribe treatment/exercises
3.     Predicting outcome.

Distortion of the linea alba, and its relationship to the IRD, is likely the more valid measure particularly over time.

This presentation will present the results of 3 studies (1 published and 2 in submission) to support the conclusion that for many individuals with DRA, the IRD does not change beyond the natural period of healing and is not impacted by exercise training, whereas distortion of the linea alba is.

During this workshop, you will learn:

Understand what is meant by DRA and IRD
How DRA and IRD are measured and their significance
Understand how diastasis can vary during postpartum stages
Understand how to cue the core for clients with DRA

** This workshop is designed to accompany the Q&A On the DRA with Melanie Byford-Young on June 29, 2024 (MBY EDU). To sign up, visit this link. As well as, Prenatal Pilates on the Reformer (Melanie) on June 29, 2024 at PNWPE. To sign up, visit this link.

Diane Lee

BSR, FCAMPT, CGIMS
Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health

Diane is a UBC graduate in the field of rehabilitation medicine. She is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapy (CAMT), certified practitioner of intramuscular stimulation (Gunn IMS) and certified by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association as a clinical specialist in Women’s Health. She was an instructor and chief examiner for CAMT for over 20 years and in 2021 received the CPA Medal of Distinction and in 2023 the CPA Professional Contribution Award.

Diane is the owner, director, and a practicing physiotherapist at Diane Lee & Associates, a private multi-disciplinary physiotherapy clinic in South Surrey, BC, Canada. In addition, she is the principle instructor of Learn with Diane Lee (www.learnwithdianelee.com).

She has been a keynote speaker at many conferences, has contributed chapters to several books and self-published the book The Abdominal Wall & Diastasis Rectus Abdominis (2nd edn) in 2023. Her book, The Pelvic Girdle, was first published by Churchill Livingstone in 1989, is now in its 4th edition (2011) and has been translated into multiple languages. The Thorax – An Integrated Approach was released in 2018 by Handspring Publishing. She holds the North American patent for two sacroiliac belts, The Com-Pressor, and The Baby Belly Pelvic Support. With respect to research, she continues to investigate the behaviour of the abdominal wall in women with diastasis rectus abdominis.

Melanie Byford-Young

Co-Owner, Pacific Northwest Pilates, Master Instructor Trainer of Rehabilitation, STOTT PILATES®

Melanie is a leader in the global community of Pilates, physical therapy, and fitness training. She is co-owner of Pacific Northwest Pilates and Melanie Byford-Young Education, and a Master Instructor Trainer of Rehabilitation for STOTT PILATES™. She co-created the six-part Rehabilitation Course series for licensed healthcare professionals which is taught internationally. She has also created her own library of over 25 courses, master classes, and case-study based learning workshops. Her expertise in therapeutic orthopedic strategies attracts a world wide audience and has sent her abroad to work throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Home-based in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, Melanie splits her time between working with complex clients, consulting, teaching, and creating content. She loves teaching and mentoring students and therapists, and is a highly-sought after resource for professionals wishing to acquire critical reasoning skills to assess physical movement.