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Thanks to everyone who responded to my question.

Hi Starr, there are differing views on the use of support devices for muscles. The science is such that when you support muscles and tissues for help in stablilizing injury they are good to use. However, due to the nature of muscles and how they grow and strengthen with demand it stands to reason that the muscles will only grow and/or get stronger if they have to. So, if you use a support belt the muscles will not adapt and grow/strengthen if they don't have to. If you want to tone your ab muscles you must challenge them to grow and tighten. By using an assistive device they will not feel the need to improve because something is doing the work for them. Hope this makes sense. I would not use a supporter, instead I would challenge my muscles by placing demands on them so they will have to strengthen or grow to meet the demands placed on them. Also, for some women there is a thing called rectus dehisci which is where the midline muscles separate due to the enlargement of pregnancy. If that is what has happened to you and your doctor confirms it, the only thing you can do is have it repaired as all the crunches in the world won't knit the muscles back together. I am just a student nurse so this is offering a suggestion, not medical adivice. Good luck!