Should I get my umbilical hernia repaired?

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Julie Tupler

Whether you decide to have surgery for you umbilical hernia or not…..it is important to do the 4 step Tupler Technique ® Program first!

If you get your umbilical hernia repaired and you have a diastasis recti, more than likely the umbilical hernia will reoccur!  The umbilical hernia is a side effect of the diastasis recti. Closing a diastasis is all about healing the connective tissue. When you heal the connective tissue you then provide support to the umbilicus.

If you decide to have the surgery, by doing this program you will have both the strength and knowledge of how to use your abdominal muscles to be able to maintain the integrity of the sutures after your surgery.

Posted in Abdominal Separation, Diastasis recti, Diastasis Rehab, Surgery for Umbilical Hernia, Tupler Technique®, Umbilical Hernia | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

If I have a diastasis recti and plan to get pregnant again soon….when do I start the Tupler Technique® Program?

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Julie Tupler

 

You start the program immediately….if not sooner! You want to begin making your diastasis smaller before you get pregnant and then to continue to make it smaller during your pregnancy. It is also important to start preparing your body for your next pregnancy.

This program can be done “anytime” during your pregnancy and continued all the way to the end of your pregnancy. However, women get the best results the earlier they start.  It can also be started immediately after giving birth. A great time to do the seated exercises is while feeding your baby!

The goal of this program during pregnancy is not only to make your diastasis smaller but  to train you how to push so that it is then second nature for you when you get to labor. It is impossible to do a new skill when you are in pain! You must therefore practice this new skill and strengthen your abdominal muscles so they are strong enough to push for as long as necessary without getting tired.   When you get to labor  you will then be able to push with your strengthened and splinted abdominal muscles while relaxing your pelvic floor muscles!

Our evidenced based research showed that during our six week program utilizing the Tupler Technique,® women’s diastasis were getting smaller as their bellies were getting larger! Because of this I contacted Columbia University Program in Physical Therapy. They conducted a study with pregnant women that proved that the women that did the Tupler Technique® during their pregnancy had a smaller diastasis than the control group who did not do this program.

A  diastasis recti can cause two major problems for you. Separated muscles weaken the support system for the back causing back problems during and after pregnancy. The other problem is the separated muscles weaken the support system for your organs. Lack of support of the uterus puts the cervix out of alignment with the vaginal canal. This will make pushing very difficult during labor.

The two DVDs I recommend during pregnancy are the Tupler Technique® Perfect Pushing® and the Diastasis Rehab Lose Your Mummy Tummy.®  Both DVDs teach the 4- step Tupler Technique.®  The Tupler Technique® Perfect Pushing® will teach you everything you need to know about pushing and the modifications how to  exercise during pregnancy. The Diastasis Rehab Lose Your Mummy Tummy® will teach you the fundamentals for incorporating the Tupler Technique® into an exercise routine and then show you a routine demonstrating how to do this.

If you know you will be having a c-section, I also recommend the The Tupler Technique® Ab Rehab® DVD. This DVD will help you prepare for and recover from abdominal surgery.

 

Posted in Diastasis During Pregnancy, Diastasis on Women, Diastasis recti, Diastasis Rehab | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Mistakes When Putting on the Diastasis Rehab Splint®

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Julie Tupler

It important to put the Diastasis Rehab Splint® on”correctly” to get the most benefit from wearing it.  After watching the way my clients put it on, I realized I needed to do another video showing the mistakes that were made and how to correct them.

So here is the video

Hope this helps

Julie

 

 

Posted in Abdominal Separation, Diastasis recti, Diastasis Rehab, Diastasis Rehab Splint, Splinting | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Questions & Answers about the Tupler Technique® Program During Pregnancy

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Julie Tupler

1. Is it safe to splint during pregnancy with only a small diastasis recti?  And can the splint be worn during labor?
Yes, it is safe to wear a splint during pregnancy whether you have a small or large diastasis. If you do all 4 steps of the program you can make your diastasis smaller during your pregnancy.  Some pregnant women love wearing a splint. Others do not want to wear anything the least bit binding.  If you are one of those women who do not like to wear anything, I recommend that you “hold” a splint (scarf or arms of your sweater) while doing the seated and back lying exercise. Also to “hold” a splint while pushing in labor.  Please watch the video on the Perfect Pushing  page on my website that talks about why it is important to splint the muscles while pushing. The splint can also be worn during labor.

Does the program help women who choose an epidural
Yes.  Many of my clients where able to push effectively with an epidural.  If you practice pushing as taught on my Perfect Pushing DVD, you will have both the strength and body awareness to push in labor.  You simply close your eyes and visualize the abdominal muscles going back and the pelvic floor muscles opening and relaxing.  Your body has “muscle memory” and will know how to do this especially if you practice this everyday when you go to the bathroom!

3. How do I choose the correct size for a pregnancy splint?  I am about 28 weeks currently but will still be growing.
You need  to measure what you are now and get one size larger. Then you put a hem in the arms of the splint to make it small enough to fit you now. As you get bigger you make the arms longer by taking out the hem. 

4. Am I correct in assuming I will need a different post-partum splint size?  If so, is it best to wait to purchase a splint until after pregnancy?
After wearing it your whole pregnancy, you may want to get a new one after your pregnancy. If you find you do not like wearing a splint during pregnancy then you will have it for after the pregnancy. It takes six weeks for the uterus to go back to its normal size so if you are buying one size larger it should fit you.  The ability to make the arms shorter  gives you lots of flexibility.
Many of my pregnant ladies like wearing it over the Be Maternity Be Band. It seems to stay in place better.

 

 

 

Posted in Abdominal Separation, Diastasis During Pregnancy, Diastasis on Women, Diastasis recti, Diastasis Rehab, Diastasis Rehab Splint, Online Support Program, Pushing in labor with the Tupler Technique, Splinting, Tupler Technique® | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

CRUNCH FREE ABS in Real Simple Article (February,2012)

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Julie Tupler

CRUNCHES MAKE A DIASTASIS LARGER

Strengthening the transverse muscle is key in healing the connective tissue and closing your diastasis recti.

Crunches make a diastasis larger!

Posted in PR for Tupler Technique | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Online Support Program Starting February 6th!

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Julie Tupler

Happy New Year!

I wanted to let you know that I will be starting my first online support program on February 6, 2012.  I have been asked for many years to create a program where people can get support after they watch the Lose Your Mummy Tummy® or Say Goodbye to Your Gut, Guys® Dvd.  If you have questions about whether you are doing the exercises correctly, find it hard to motivate yourself to get started or have started in the past and not completed… this program is your solution! Get more information about  the Online Support Program

Become a Belly Buddy Member for free and get $25 off this program as well as the inside scoop with what we are doing and where we are going!

Look forward to working with you in the near future!

Julie

Posted in Online Support Program | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

CHECK YOUR BELLY BEFORE YOU WRECK YOUR BELLY

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Julie Tupler

New York, NY, December 2, 2011 – Just in time for the 2012 New Year, Tupler Inc. today launches the “Check Your Belly Before You Wreck Your Belly” global public service announcement to ask that everyone check their bellies for a diastasis, a separation of the outermost abdominal muscles, before starting any new workout regimen. This announcement includes a live press briefing from Union Square, New York City, that will be streamed from www.ustream.tv/channel/checkyourbelly on Monday, December 5, 1:00pm ET. 

The Twitter handle is @diastasisrehab and the Twitter hashtag is #checkyourbelly.

“When your belly gets worse or won’t go away with exercise, it may not be fat. It may be your organs sticking out,” said Julie Tupler, RN, the creator of the Tupler Technique® and President of Tupler Inc.   “Checking your belly for a diastasis before starting your New Year’s fitness resolution may be one of the smartest things you can do for yourself because it may help stopyou from wrecking your belly.  At our press briefing on Monday, we will show you how to check your belly for a diastasis.  If you know you have a diastasis, then there are certain exercises to avoid because these exercises may make the belly even bigger.  When the abdominal muscles separate the connective tissue stretches sideways and becomes weaker. When you do planks and crunches, you are creating intra-abdominal pressure that pushes against the connective tissue. This force makes the separation larger.  Trauma to this abdominal connective tissue can tear it away from the muscle and cause a ventral hernia.”

She continued, “As part of our Check Your Belly Before You Wreck Your Belly Campaign, we have created new easy-to-use informational materials to make it easier for women, men, and children to check their bellies for a diastasis and understand the dangers of unchecked bellies.  I’ve personally signed a “Nurse’s Note” that you can download on Monday from  www.diastasisrehab.com/belly-check.html and give to your fitness professional or child’s gymteacher to be excused from doing planks or crunches.”

About the Check Your Belly Before You Wreck Your Belly Campaign

The Check Your Belly Before You Wreck Your Belly, sponsored by Tupler Inc., consists of three key program elements all of which will be made available on Monday, December 5.

1.  Live Press Briefing on December 5 at 1:00pm ET in New York which will also be webcast from www.ustream.tv/channel/checkyourbelly

2.  Free downloadable materials on www.diastasisrehab.com/belly-check.html, including:

Wallet-sized “Check Your Belly Before You Wreck Your Belly” informational card
Wallet-sized “Nurse’s Note” to give to fitness professionals
Tupler Technique® Tips with helpful hints on the 4 step program

3.  A calendar of where and when free belly checks will take place and done by these licensed Tupler Technique® providers.

Schedule of Activities on Monday, December 5

All activities listed below take place at:
The Seafarers & International House
123 E. 15th St, 2nd Floor
NY, NY

 1:00pm: Press Briefing, which will be broadcast live:
www.ustream.tv/channel/checkyourbelly
Main presenter: Julie Tupler, RN

2:00pm – 5:00pm     EveryBelly® Seminar with Julie Tupler, RN . Julie Tupler, RN will lead a three-hour EveryBelly® Seminar using the Tupler Technique®.

Online Registration http://tuplertechnique.eventbrite.com
Use this code “Check” to save $15.  Everyone registered can bring a friend for free.

 

 

Posted in Abdominal Separation, Diastasis on Children, Diastasis on Men, Diastasis on Women, Diastasis recti, Tupler Technique® | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Is it too late to close my diastasis?

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Julie Tupler

Welcome to the Belly Blog. I am Julie Tupler, RN creator of the Tupler Technique®. The Tupler Technique® is the only research and evidence based program to treat a diastasis recti. I have been teaching the Tupler Technique® for over 20 years! My purpose for this blog is two fold. The first to educate people about all aspects of a diastasis recti and the second is to answer questions about the Tupler Technique® Program. Please feel free to post comments, questions, and your own personal stories on this blog.

A diastasis recti is a condition many people have…they just don’t know it! This condition affects women, men and children. A diastasis can be closed on anyone at anytime.

I wanted to start this blog with my most frequently asked question. This question comes from women.

IS IT TOO LATE TO CLOSE MY DIASTASIS?

The answer is NO. It is never too late ladies! We are all born with a diastasis. It closes on 70% of children around three years of age after the nervous system has developed. Because the umbilicus is a weak spot in the connective tissue, this closure can re-open with continuous intra-abdominal force on it. This force comes from bodily activities like coughing, constipation and activities like crunches or the pilates 100’s.

However, the diastasis is usually worse on women who have been pregnant. This is because of two factors that occur during pregnancy. The growing uterus putting force on the connective tissue and the hormone relaxin that softens it. If you don’t close it after your first pregnancy, it will keep getting worse with each pregnancy.

In order to prove my point that a diastasis can be closed on anyone at anytime…… I would like to share a story from a 64 year old man that did my program. He has also shared with me his before and after photos. As you can see, not only has his belly gotten flatter, his belly button has gone from an innie to an outie! So ladies, if a man can get these results…so can you! Also, chances are the man in your life may also have a diastasis and just not know it! The Tupler Technique® is something you both can do together!

Julie,

I want to thank you so much for helping me to overcome my diastasis disorder. I am 64 years old, 6 ft. 1 in height, 185 pounds and have maintained a good physical condition all my life. But I was bothered that in recent years, I could not maintain a relatively flat stomach. I felt that I might be carrying some extra fat in the tummy area that exercise and diet could not remove, so I decided to try smart lipo to remove the fat. Much to my chagrin after the procedure, my stomach pooch was even more pronounced. The doctor who did the procedure referred me to a surgeon who diagnosed me with diastasis. He said he could help me by treating it as a hernia and described the procedure and healing process. I decided not to go that route. I started researching diastasis online and came across Julie Tupler Technique and decided to give it a try. I started wearing the splints on September 19 and also began the exercises the same date. I was totally amazed at the immediate results. My measurements upon starting were a midsection of 38 inches with 35 inches around the belly button area. The diastasis was approximately four fingers in width. I have enclosed photos showing the “before” measurements that were taken by my doctor on September 16. The “after’ pictures were taken by the surgeon on October 3. The doctor and her staff were overwhelmed by the drastic change in only six weeks. Six weeks after starting the process, my current measurements are 35 inch midsection and 34 inches around the belly button area. The diastasis has been reduced to approximately one finger in width. Hopefully, in a few weeks, the diastasis will be totally healed. Thanks again for developing your rehab technique for diastasis. I might even try going on the beach again!”

- Mickey Gamble, Alabama

Week One Week Six
Posted in Abdominal Separation, Diastasis on Men, Diastasis recti, Diastasis Rehab, Tupler Technique® | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment