During kidney removal, the surgeon may have needed to cut through your muscles or removed your ribs to access the area. This can cause physiological changes that require you to change your exercise routine. Unless otherwise advised, you should continue to exercise after kidney removal. Benefits include improved circulation, better muscle tone, more energy and increased strength. Work out 20 to 30 minutes four days a week after kidney removal surgery. Start off with a less intense schedule of 10 to 15 minute workout sessions and gradually build up to 30 minutes.
Step 1
Work the abs and obliques affected by kidney removal surgery with a seated side straddle exercise. Sit on the floor with your legs spread apart in front of you. Bend your elbows and put your arms at your sides. Drive your right elbow to the right toward the floor without rotating your core or moving your head. Feel a stretch along your left side during the exercise. Hold the stretch for about 10 seconds until returning to the starting position and repeating the move for your other side.
Step 2
Lie on your left side to perform a side plank. Lift your upper body by supporting your weight on your left elbow. raise your hip off the mat and contract the abdominal muscles. Your knee, head and spine should remain in alignment. Release the contraction and lower your hip down to the mat. Repeat the exercise for both sides of the body. This exercise focuses on flank muscles; your doctor may have cut through flank muscle during surgery to access the kidney, according to the Kidney Cancer Association.
Step 3
Exercise the pelvic floor muscles with Kegels. Muscle damage during surgery may have caused complications like incontinence. Stop the flow of urine mid-stream when going to the bathroom. Do not use the glutes, leg or ab muscles to perform this exercise. Hold the urine flow for a couple of seconds before releasing.
Step 4
Use a ball to create light resistance following surgery. Place an exercise ball between your thighs while lying flat on your back. Squeeze the ball using your thigh muscles while simultaneously contracting your abs and hold the stretch for five seconds. Use this exercise to focus on abdominal muscles that were affected during kidney removal. Release and repeat.
Tips and Warnings
- Check your incision after any form of exercise. Report any changes to your doctor. Participate in light forms of cardio exercise along with resistance training. Walking is the best type of exercise to begin after kidney removal. If you feel any muscle pain, take a break and resume once the sensation has passed.
- Avoid any type of heavy lifting for three weeks. According to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, avoid any weighted objects that are more than 20 to 25 lbs. Heavy lifting may worsen the muscle damage you have already sustained during surgery. Any type of strenuous exercise is to be avoided until six to eight weeks after your surgery. Do not swim for four weeks after kidney removal due to an increased risk of infection.
Things You'll Need
- Exercise ball
References
- Kidney Cancer Association: Surgical Treatment
- Cleveland Clinic: Exercise Guidelines after Kidney Transplant
- Metropolitan Urological Specialists: Pelvic Muscle Exercises To Improve Bladder Control
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: Kidney Removal
- American Council on Exercise: Exercises for Abdominals
