Diastasis, Tilted Pelvis & Boners: Is There a Connection?
Added 2025-05-08 15:46:29 +0000 UTCA community member was wondering if diastasis recti or anterior pelvic tilt might be messing with their erections. Watch this video!
A community member was wondering if diastasis recti or anterior pelvic tilt might be messing with their erections. Diastasis recti is basically a laxity of the linea alba—the connective tissue that holds your rectus abdominis muscles together (yep, the 6-pack abs most of us are chasing, haha).
Let’s unpack what the research says, what matters more than the “gap” or posture, and how function—not perfection—is the name of the game.
Reference: Conservative interventions may have little effect on reducing diastasis of the rectus abdominis in postnatal women – A systematic review and meta-analysis
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer:
This video is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal medical concerns.
Comments
I'm truly humbled, David. But you are most welcome to share resources with our community that you find beneficial. I would also be happy to consider them for a special interview as well!
susie@drsusieg.com
2025-05-09 20:30:49 +0000 UTCThank you for taking the time to share all this with us, David. Sounds like you've really found your groove with movement and finally got a piece of the puzzle that was missing. That fascial restriction insight is huge. And yeah, it really does make a difference when someone knows what they’re doing and actually sees you. I’m so glad you’ve found that. Continue to keep us posted!
susie@drsusieg.com
2025-05-09 20:29:22 +0000 UTCWow, what a story, Steve. First off, I'm glad she was okay, and also—that’s a hell of a hit you took. What you’re describing definitely sounds like it could be diastasis recti (DR), especially with the ridge at your midline when you try to sit up. But given your history, it’s also possible that the periumbilical hernia and DR are showing up together. That can happen, especially after a blunt abdominal trauma like the one you had. A physical therapist familiar with abdominal wall injuries and pelvic health could be really helpful for assessing what’s going on and guiding you through safe core work. Now that you mention it, I might just include some DR-friendly core exercises in my next shoot. 😁
susie@drsusieg.com
2025-05-09 20:23:40 +0000 UTCAlthough never diagnosed with DR, I feel that this is what I may be experiencing. Several years ago, a Patient was attempting to harm herself by climbing atop a dining room table with the intent of jumping off and landing upon her head on the concrete floor. I saw this transpiring from across the room and may a sliding catch. However, her head speared me in the abdomen, with all of her 320lbs of body weight behind it. Officially, I received a Periumbilical Hernia and a back injury, but I notice that when I try to sit up, my stomach now comes to a sharp ridge about my belly button. I will get this fixed one day. Anyway, she was unharmed.
Steve
2025-05-09 04:57:03 +0000 UTCI am also working with an online specialist in diastasis recti in men and how it presents itself differently than in women - I don't want to post that individual's name here on Dr Susie's site for I don't think that would be prudent or proper but I will keep everyone updated on my progress - maybe if Dr Susie deems it appropriate she could interview this person on the topics of either or both DR in men and/or male pelvic floor health and therapy....... thanks!!!! I am sure we can all agree here though that Dr Susie ROCKS!!!!
DVM-David
2025-05-09 02:21:05 +0000 UTCWOW ok - good to know!!! Thanks Dr Susie for the information. I have had lower back tightness/issues since college. Some time ago I was diagnosed with DR along with a number of other things. I originally began doing Pilates and got a great deal of relief in helping strengthen my core and helping with my posture. That led to doing barre classes which proved to be so much more challenging than I ever expected to the point where I am at Pure Barre at least 5 times a week because it has helped my lower back and posture sooo much!!! I have even been taking formal adult ballet classes to help once again with my lower back and foot/ankle and toe issues. ALL of these activities have been extremely helpful to me. Within the last 6 months or so I learned about a PT studio that also features Pilates classes in addition to their regular PT practice. This new Pilates instructor has been absolutely OUTSTANDING!!! She is an assistant PT but has a formal dance degree and worked as an aerialist for 15 years with a well-recognized cruise line before suffering an injury and leaving the cruise industry. She has been a total breath of fresh air for me in her approach to Pilates and has been able to connect some dots for me that I have been struggling with for at least 30+ years!!!! Tonight during my Pilates class, we keep trying to get my lower back to turn off and stop gripping and have been doing a number of very specific movements to gain some lower back mobility. Then she had me stop and said that I am just not getting the range of movement in my lower back without everything gripping or getting tight. She then had me lay on my stomach and did some manual lower back fascial manipulation/release. My lower back was like a piece of cement and she spent at least 10 minutes forcefully trying to get things to loosen up and eventually she was able to get things to relax, loosen and gain a significant increase in my range of motion. She is the FIRST person who finally made the connection to my issue simply being that my lower back is soooo tight at a fascial level that it is prohibiting me from getting any real range of motion there and allowing other muscles to fire properly even though I have been seeing a chiropractor, doing Pilates for around 6 years, barre for 2.5 years and now ballet for almost a full year!!!!!!! I too have diastasis recti and all of these pieces are connected!!!! I am about to sign up for a yearly membership at this particular PT facility for monthly visits to a specific DPT there to help with this issue. Tonight was simply LIFE CHANGING and my Pilates instructor says we are going to get to a point where things are going to loosen up long term and have some game changing results for me!!! I am so excited I cant wait to share my progress!!!! It just goes to show that when you find someone who REALLY knows what they are talking about (like Dr Susie Gronski) it can have a LIFE CHANGING effect even on a 60 yr old guy like me!!!! My Pilates instructor was telling me tonight that I have excellent hamstring flexibility ESPECIALLY for a guy that once we get my sacrum/lower back fascia to loosen up I will really be able to perform like I never could before!!!! Once she was able to slightly loosen up my lower back it was a feeling like I have never felt before and I damn near lost it there in the studio for my lower back has been sooooo tight for so long I had NO idea it could be this good!!!! Sorry for the lengthy post but I cant even begin to tell you how utterly life changing this work is going to be moving forward making my work in Pilates/barre/ballet even MORE productive than it has already been!!! Once again THANKS to Dr Susie for jumping in and adding to the conversation!!!! I hope this helps others too!!! THANKS!!!
DVM-David
2025-05-09 01:56:56 +0000 UTC
