Small habits can make a big difference.

So you think core rehabilitation at The Tummy Team is only for postpartum moms? Maybe you’d believe we can help a few men if they were older and had declining health. But what about even a healthy, lean 19-year old? Nick is a healthy, active man who spends most days sitting at his desk as a computer designer. On the weekends, he helps on the family farm. One day, Nick was hammering in fence posts and noticed a bulging area pop out at his belly button. After being seen by a doctor, he was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia and scheduled for surgery. Nick’s mother, who heard about us through Fit2B, messaged The Tummy Team to see if we could help him avoid surgery. Nick lived four states away.

Thanks to technology, we were able to “see” him when he signed up for a Skype session with our physical therapist. His “hernia” appeared to be more likely a diastasis since there was no tear, no bulging organs and little pain at the umbilical area. We addressed his core strength, his sitting postures and how he engaged (or didn’t engage) his core for strenuous activities on the farm. He had built habits of slumping at his desk, leaning down to see a small computer screen and ignoring his core while working on the farm.

Although we scheduled a follow-up Skype session three weeks later, it was not needed. Once he was aware of his habits, Nick made small changes throughout his workday that helped him feel better immediately. This was his email to us…

“Thanks, Kelly! I really appreciate your help, friendliness, and how personable you were. I’m excited about this – it’s like a new healthiness that I didn’t even know I was missing. I just wanted to give you a status update – it’s going great! Although I can still feel the diastasis a little, it’s noticeably smaller and the gap that I felt along that linea alba line is definitely smaller. Additionally, I just feel better in general now that I have a better awareness of posture and correct breathing. And that active sitting position now feels right, not uncomfortable, and I can hold it for WAY longer without back support. I swapped out my office chair for just a nice, straight wooden chair. I got an external computer monitor which is all the way up at eye level [instead of looking down at a laptop screen] and it’s larger so that I can see all the fine details without feeling that need to lean in.

I opted not to set up a check-in appt. since it’s going so well but I am truly thankful for your help. It’s a great way to start off a new calendar. I hope you and your family had a blessed Christmas and have a happy New Year!”

Nick was indeed able to avoid surgery and prevent further injury after just one session with The Tummy Team. Diastasis recti are common but only one part of what we do. Our core rehabilitation programs can help with chronic back pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, digestion problems, prenatal core weakness and more. If you are in the Pacific Northwest, come see us in person at our clinic. If not, we have excellent online programs and you can Skype with our therapists.

The Tummy Team has helped thousands of clients locally and internationally with their comprehensive online core rehab programs. The core is the foundation for all your movement all day long. If you are struggling to really connect to your core, let us help you. Check out our online courses HERE or click the images below to preview our most popular programs.

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