Ontario Clinical Practice Exam

Diastasis Recti Abdominus is characterized by a significant separation of the rectus abdominal muscles along the linea alba, which is the midline fibrous structure running down the abdomen. The key feature that defines the condition is a gap greater than two fingerbreadths (or approximately 2 cm) when measuring the separation. This distance indicates a clinically relevant diastasis, as it typically signifies that the abdominal muscles are not functioning cohesively, which can lead to issues such as decreased core stability and potential postural problems.

The significance of identifying a separation greater than two fingers lies in the associated physical symptoms and considerations for rehabilitation strategies. Patients with this level of separation often require targeted exercises to help restore muscle function and integrity to the abdominal wall, making early and accurate assessment essential for management.

In contrast, separations of less than two fingers generally fall within the normal variant for many individuals, especially in postpartum women, and may not necessitate intervention or indicate a pathological condition. Therefore, recognizing the threshold of greater than two fingers as a diagnostic criterion is key in clinical practice for understanding and addressing diastasis recti.