A hemicolectomy is a procedure that involves the surgical removal of a portion of either the ascending or descending colon, depending on if you are getting a right or left hemicolectomy. This surgery is often performed on individuals suffering from colon cancer as well as other infections and traumas to the intestine. After several days of immobilization, exercise will be recommended to help strengthen your muscles and cardiovascular health.
Supine Exercises
For the first few weeks after your hemicolectomy procedure, you will need to spend a large amount of time in bed and resting. After several days, you can begin performing basic range-of-motion exercises while lying down to increase blood flow and continue to strengthen your muscles. All exercises should be performed without pain. Lying exercises range from ankle pumps to leg lifts. To perform an ankle pump, lie on your back with your legs extended and arms at your sides. From here, point your toes out and away from your body then pull them back in, moving between these two positions rapidly until fatigued.
Walking
Once you feel that you have enough strength to walk, walking is encouraged on a daily basis, according to the Ohio State University Medical Center. During your walks, you may need someone to assist you by giving you some support and helping you with regards to balance and form. As you improve, try to increase your walking distance each day; this will help with the overall healing process as well as keep your muscles from atrophying.
Lifting Exercises
Lifting exercises should be performed with extreme caution following your hemicolectomy, as many of them require you to use your abdominal muscles and lower torso. Start by lifting light objects, making sure you stop lifting if you feel any pain or discomfort in your abdominal region. If you just feel tightness, it is ok to continue lifting. As you improve, slowly increase the amount of weight you lift over several weeks until you are back to full strength.
Caution
While exercise after a hemicolectomy may be encouraged by your doctor, it is important to use caution when engaging in any exercise that may potentially disrupt the healing process. Due to the invasive nature of the surgery, you will have stitches on the inside and outside of your body. As a result, it is important to not perform any rotational exercises that may cause the stitches to tear out or come loose. Talk to your doctor for specific exercise recommendations tailored to your condition.
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