A hernia occurs when mass from your abdominals pushes through a weak place in the muscular abdominal wall. It can be a painful condition that needs to be repaired via surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive and patches the weak spot in your abdominal wall to correct your current hernia and prevent others from occurring. Since it is a minimally invasive procedure, you should be able to resume exercise fairly quickly after your surgery.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor directly after surgery and inquire directly about the level of exercise you're allowed to attain while recovering. While laparoscopic hernia repair is minimally invasive, depending on your level of activity and your particular circumstances, your doctor may have specific advice about resuming physical activity. It's best to ask before you presume that you can exercise right away and cause further damage.
Step 2
Wait two or three days before you begin resuming normal activities again. While you should be able to walk soon after your surgery, the Cleveland Clinic notes that you may need to take it easy and rest for a few days following the surgery to ensure that you're healed and ready for activity.
Step 3
Resume regular, low-impact exercise a week from your surgery, suggests Hernia.org. Some examples of acceptable low-impact exercises include walking, water aerobics, biking or other types of exercise that bring your heart rate to a moderate pace without significant impact on your body. Avoid higher-impact types of exercise like running, contact sports and other types of exercise that could result in injury.
Step 4
Schedule a one- or two-week followup with your doctor following your surgery, where your doctor can examine your incisions and gauge your level of rehabilitation, suggests the Comprehensive Center for Laparoscopic Surgery . With your doctor's recommendation, you can begin your regular exercise regimen, even high-impact exercise like weight lifting, sports training or playing for your team.
Step 5
Stop exercising and contact your doctor immediately if you notice any pain, bleeding or evidence of another hernia when you exercise. Continuing to exercise when you feel pain or notice bleeding can cause extensive damage, especially after a surgery. Your doctor may request that you avoid strenuous exercise for several weeks to allow your incision and hernia to repair before your begin your regular exercise routine again.
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