How to Avoid Unsafe Abdominal Exercise after Hysterectomy – 5 Exercises to Avoid

avoid this abdominal exercise after hysterectomy

Are you concerned about unsafe abdominal exercise after hysterectomy?

 

This Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist information teaches you:

  • When to return to exercise after hysterectomy
  • 5 Intense abdominal exercises to avoid after hysterectomy
  • How abdominal exercise can cause long-term pelvic floor problems

 

When to Return to Abdominal Exercise after Hysterectomy

Your surgeon will usually advise you on whether or not you can return to general exercise during your 6 week post hysterectomy check up.

Even though your wound may appear completely healed from around 4-6 weeks after surgery, complete internal healing after hysterectomy takes an average of 3 months.

During the first 6 weeks post op

Hysterectomy recovery exercise is usually directed at minimising physical decline while your body heals and preventing hysterectomy side effects. Women are usually advised to choose post-operative walking as their main form of exercise during this time.

From 6-12 weeks after hysterectomy

After surgery abdominal exercises may resume when approval is given to return to general exercise. A modified approach to abdominal exercises is necessary especially from 6-12 weeks post op.

It’s vital to avoid intense abdominal core exercises as your body heals. For some women who have prolapse repair and hysterectomy surgery and/or weak pelvic floor muscles, modified abdominal exercises are advisable long-term.

Strength and Core Workout for Women (Download or Hard Copy)

Strength & Core Workout DownloadStrength and Core video is a pelvic floor friendly core exercise workout with Physiotherapist Michelle Kenway

This whole body workout that strengthens your core abdominal and pelvic floor muscles in addition to whole body strengthening and posture training.

Strength and Core Benefits

Strength and Core Workout includes exercises designed to:

  • Exercise safely and avoid injury
  • Train core abdominal muscles
  • Strengthen pelvic floor muscles
  • Strengthen & tone hips, butt and thighs
  • Improve posture
  • Strengthen back muscles
  • Improve body weight management
  • Improve flexibility

5 Abdominal Exercises to Avoid after Hysterectomy

Inappropriate abdominal exercises after hysterectomy can increase the risk of internal strain and injury causing long term pelvic floor problems (e.g. pelvic organ prolapse).

Exercise 1. Head and Shoulder Forward Raise Exercises

Abdominal exercises where the head and shoulders are raised forward off the supporting surface i.e abdominal curls or sit ups (shown right).abdominal curl exercise

Variations include:

  • Fitball sit ups (shown above)
  • Incline bench curls/sit ups
  • Medicine ball sit ups
  • Oblique sit ups (opposite elbow to knee)
  • Roll up (Pilates)

Exercise 2. Double Leg Raise Exercises Double leg raises

Abdominal exercises where both legs are raised simultaneously off the supporting surface.

Variations include:

  • Double leg raises ( shown right)
  • Bicycle legs
  • Double leg fit ball raises
  • Criss-Cross (Pilates)
  • Corkscrew (Pilates)
  • Rollover (Pilates)
  • Single-Leg Drop (Pilates)

Exercise 3. Double Leg Raises (head raised)

V sit exerciseAbdominal core exercises where the head, shoulders and both legs are all raised simultaneously off the supporting surface (shown right).

Variations include:

Exercise 4. Forward Plank Exercises

Intense abdominal core exercises where the trunk is held suspended above the ground weight bearing through either the upper or upper and lower limbs (shown right).

Variations include: Forward plank abdominal exercise

  • Forward Plank (kneeling)
  • Forward Plank (weight through feet)
  • Forearm Plank/Hover/Low Plank (weight through forearms and feet)
  • Chaturanga (Yoga)
  • Crow Pose (Yoga)

Exercise 5. Abdominal Resistance Equipment Exercises

There are many different types of equipment-based resistance exercises for the abdomen with potential to overload the pelvic floor.

Intense abdominal exercise equipment includes:Abdominal roller

This exercise information applies to most women during their 3 month recovery after a hysterectomy. Always follow your surgeon’s instructions regarding your individual post-operative exercises.

This list of unsafe abdominal exercises is by no means exhaustive. The variations listed here are to help you identify potentially unsafe abdominal exercises.

Abdominal Exercises and Pelvic Floor Problems

Intense abdominal exercises increase the pressure within your abdomen (known as intra-abdominal pressure).

This pressure generated by your abdominal muscles is then transferred downwards inside your pelvis onto your pelvic floor.

Your internal surgical wound and stitches are placed under the load of pressure generated which can cause strain in an effort to counteract this downward pressure.

Safe Abdominal Exercise after Hysterectomy

Returning to safe abdominal exercises after a hysterectomy involves an understanding of those specific intense abdominal exercises you need to avoid to reduce the likelihood of internal strain.

Women are different when it comes to their long-term ability to perform core abdominal exercises . Those women with increased risk of pelvic floor dysfunction after hysterectomy will benefit from a long-term program of modified abdominal core exercises.

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