If you’ve ever been confused about the difference between a physical therapist (PT) and a personal trainer (CPT), you’re not alone. Even the acronyms look similar! And while there’s some overlap between the two professions, the differences are key—especially when it comes to injuries, pain, or conditions like diastasis recti.

Now I’m NOT saying that a personal trainer can’t help you heal this condition. What I AM saying is that personal trainers do not have the same training in movement dysfunctions that a physical therapist has to be able to both diagnose and recommend rehabilitation exercises to heal diastasis recti. And that’s not to say that personal trainers aren’t smart or don’t research  –  some of my close friends are really awesome personal trainers. But I have experienced many personal trainers on the internet and in gyms giving the wrong advice to people after an injury or birth.

Personal Trainers or Movement Coaches: Fitness and Performance Specialists

According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), certified personal trainers (CPTs) work with “apparently healthy individuals” to improve fitness, health, and performance. Key words: “apparently healthy.”

Here’s what personal trainers excel at:

• Building Strength and Fitness: They design exercise programs tailored to your fitness goals. Whether you want to run a 5K or simply feel stronger in everyday life, they’re your go-to.
• Motivation and Accountability: A good trainer keeps you consistent and on track.
• Proper Form: Trainers are great at teaching proper exercise form to prevent injury.

However, personal trainers are not medically trained and don’t have the expertise to evaluate or diagnose conditions like diastasis recti or pelvic floor dysfunction. Their job is to recognize when someone needs a higher level of care—and refer them to a healthcare professional like a physical therapist.

Physical Therapists: 

According to the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association), “Physical Therapists are movement experts. They are licensed doctors who examine, diagnose, and treat movement dysfunction.  

According to the New Jersey Board of Physical Therapy, “Physical therapy means a form of healthcare that prevents, identifies, corrects, or alleviates acute or prolonged movement dysfunction or pain of anatomic or physiologic origin.”

As part of the diagnostic process, physical therapists take a thorough medical and movement history as well as assess movement, posture, functional limitations, and balance to diagnose and create an effective treatment plan to correct and prevent movement dysfunctions to restore normal function. 

Physical Therapists: Experts in Movement and Recovery

As physical therapists, we’re trained to dive deep into movement dysfunctions and pain. Our goal is to figure out what’s going on in your body and develop a plan to restore your function and help you move better.

Here’s why PTs are different:

• Medical Expertise: PTs are licensed healthcare professionals with years of advanced training in anatomy, physiology, and movement science.
• Diagnosis and Assessment: We don’t just focus on one area of the body. Instead, we take a holistic approach to understand how your whole body is functioning. For example, with diastasis recti, we’ll assess your core, breathing patterns, posture, and pelvic floor to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
• Individualized Care: PTs create personalized rehab plans based on your needs. We’re not just helping you manage symptoms; we’re addressing the root cause of your dysfunction.
• Specialized Techniques: PTs use a variety of tools beyond exercise, like manual therapy, cupping, and dry needling, to help you heal and recover faster.
• Education and Empowerment: A big part of our job is helping you understand your body and how to care for it.

Diastasis Recti: A Quick Example

If you’re dealing with diastasis recti (a common condition where the abdominal muscles separate), it’s more than just “weak abs.” It’s a movement dysfunction that affects your core, breathing, and often your pelvic floor. While you can Google exercises or follow advice online, it might not be specific to your body—and doing the wrong exercises too soon can make things worse.

A physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor health can:

1. Assess your diastasis recti and pelvic floor (including through internal exams, if appropriate).
2. Prescribe safe, personalized exercises to help you rebuild core strength and heal.
3. Teach you how to connect your breathing, core, and pelvic floor for functional strength.

So, Who Should You Work With?

Start with a Physical Therapist if you are

1. Dealing with chronicpain
2. Dealing with acute pain that isn’t going away
3. An injury, or movement dysfunctions
4. Newly postpartum and looking to get cleared for exercise
5. If you are experiencing pregnancy related pain or discomfort

Work with a Personal Trainer

1. Have a weight loss or body recomposition goal
2. Maybe tweaked your knee, but goes away with exercise modification
3. Improve fitness level

A personal trainer is a great place to start if you are “healthy” and want guidance on setting up an exercise program to help meet your fitness needs. 

A licensed physical therapist is the place to start if you have chronic or acute pain or an injury that needs help healing – like diastasis recti. We can assess your movement and help determine if a dysfunction elsewhere in the body is contributing to the pain or symptoms you are experiencing.  

For abdominal separation, we can help you build the foundational strength and connection to the breath you need to be able to progress to advanced exercises. Doing the wrong exercise too soon can cause further abdominal separation; something you definitely don’t want. 

Once you have the foundations built up with physical therapy, your physical therapist can work with your trainer to help transition your exercise program to them for progression as you get stronger. 

At Built to Move Physical Therapy and Wellness, we specialize in helping women navigate injuries, pregnancy, and postpartum with confidence and care. If you’re feeling unsure about where to start, I’m here to guide you.

Let’s work together to create a plan that helps you heal, feel strong, and move with ease. Ready to take the first step?