Guest guest Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 , I think you are right about the core muscles being affected by pregnancy because ever since having a child, my balance is off and I cannot stand still without a cane as someone else in this group posted. It is not as easy to walk as it used to be and I know I always had good core muscles IF NOTHING ELSE. I still have decent core muscles but not like they used to be so that walking is harder and the balance is gone. I work so much at it for the sake of walking and walk a lot (with my son and just with the dog), and it is still not like it used to be pre-pregnancy. It is not cosmetic it is for the sake of walking and I wish I had what I used to. I wonder if over working it is bad or good? what do you think? in our case with the CMT, do you think the rest periods would help or not? Thanks for any information on what has worked for you too. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 In my experience, core muscles can be stregthend by Kegel exercises, sit-ups, squats,Pilates and Aquatics. These have strenghtened my inner core, as well as back and shoulders. I keep at it. Maintaining a low weight, plus these exercises strengthen my inner core. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Hi Dawn,  I personally didn't experience any problems due to pregnancy and I agree with Gretchen as to the types of things she suggested for exercising the core.  My comment about core muscles being impacted in pregnancy came from a TV show called " The Doctors " that I had just seen on the topic. They explained that in pregnancy, the abdominal muscles can get stretched too much and even separate down the middle, and not be able to recover. The same thing, they said, could happen with a person who is obese and then loses the weight.  When the abdominal muscles get stretched too much, they lose elasticity and no amount of exercise can fix it, only surgery can tighten them back up. Also, if the muscles separate down the middle of the abdomen, they can only be put back together with surgery.  They had a womon on the show with stretched out muscles from pregnancy. They did an abdominoplasty on her and the difference was remarkable. They had a graphic illustration showing how they pulled the muscles back together again. It was quite fascinating.  I have no idea if this type of surgery would be recommended in a CMT patient. It likely depends on the patient's own history and the severity of the problem.  In the absence of surgery, doing exercises like Gretchen mentioned to strengthen the lower core as well as hip flexors could help your walking and balance.  I know it may sound counter-intuitive, but walking may not be the best exercise for improving your walking. There may be other isolated exercises that would be more beneficial. You may want to talk to a physical therapist.  From: Dawn Turmenne <mommyg9026@...> Subject: Core Muscles Date: Thursday, November 5, 2009, 4:58 PM  , I think you are right about the core muscles being affected by pregnancy because ever since having a child, my balance is off and I cannot stand still without a cane as someone else in this group posted. It is not as easy to walk as it used to be and I know I always had good core muscles IF NOTHING ELSE. I still have decent core muscles but not like they used to be so that walking is harder and the balance is gone. I work so much at it for the sake of walking and walk a lot (with my son and just with the dog), and it is still not like it used to be pre-pregnancy. It is not cosmetic it is for the sake of walking and I wish I had what I used to. I wonder if over working it is bad or good? what do you think? in our case with the CMT, do you think the rest periods would help or not? Thanks for any information on what has worked for you too. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 , Interesting! I was a size small before I got pregnant, so it wasn't that! I never heard about the tearing of the muscles during pregnancy that cannot be repaired afterward without surgery. I will have to ask my physician about that! Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 Hi Dawn,  I don't think the muscles actually tear. I think they just get over-stretched out and/or separate too much.  If the muscles separate too much and can't recover on their own, it's called diastasis recti. The separation occurs at the midline (straight up and down in the mid-section). Your doctor should be able to diagnose it in the office.  Here's a link with a picture and some suggestions for trying to correct it without surgery: http://www.fitnotic.com/diastasis.php  Or you can read a little about it in Wiki.  From: Dawn Turmenne <mommyg9026@...> Subject: Re: Core muscles Date: Monday, November 9, 2009, 11:59 AM  , Interesting! I was a size small before I got pregnant, so it wasn't that! I never heard about the tearing of the muscles during pregnancy that cannot be repaired afterward without surgery. I will have to ask my physician about that! Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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