Lifting heavy has so many benefits: we feel stronger, we move easier and we’re more functionally fit – meaning that we have both better balance and flexibility. But sometimes, strength training can go too far, and one injury worth keeping an eye out for is a condition called “diastasis recti”.

While it’s more common post-childbirth, it’s something that can happen to those of us who lift heavy or do lots of core work. Diastasis recti is the partial or complete separation of the rectus abdominis (or six-pack) muscle, which can leave the midline looking soft rather than tight – regardless of exercise or diet. “The midline tissue can become stressed if it’s being put under a lot of pressure,” says Emily Gilliland, a Surrey-based health personal trainer who specialises in working with pregnant and postnatal women. 

Of course, this issue isn’t necessarily an aesthetic one. Many of us work out to feel good, not to look a certain way, and this issue can impact how well we move going forward. “A lot of people talk about it being a cosmetic thing, but it’s so much more than that,” says Dr Leah Deutsch, an obstetric doctor and prenatal yoga teacher with Yoga Medicine®. “It’s a functional issue.”