Can someone recommend what physical therapy to start out with, after abdominoplasty? My surgery was three weeks ago. I’m 54 and was very active before my surgery.
Currently I’m just sitting around, starting back to work, sleeping a lot, and wearing a compression bandage. And ready to Do Something.
I play a lot of disc golf and am eager to resume. I often run when I play; am looking forward to hopping around again. I also enjoy swimming.
Thanks for any advice. I suppose what I need to hear most is what NOT to do, laugh…
Assuming your doctor OK’d you to start, the thing you want is to ensure you don’t tear anything.
For anyone with an injury or potential, it’s pretty hard to beat swimming. But here is the thing, you have to actually SWIM. In other words your heart beat needs to go up and actually stay up. You can’t just float from one side of the pool to another. That’s fun, but it’s no better than doing nothing.
So I would recommend getting into a pool and trying different strokes. Which ever one is the most comfortable do that one. Then as you heal, try others. But actually DO the laps.
You should go for 60% - 85% of your maxium heart beat. Here’s how you find it
Take 200 - You age. Then take 60 to 85 percent of that.
Since your 54
220-54 = 166
166 X .60 = 100
166 X .85 = 141
So get in the pool and do laps and keep your heart rate up between 100 - 141. Obviously you want to work toward 141 gradually.
In addition to adomanal exercises also start by getting a yoga book and look for LOWER back exercises. Most yoga is not intense and you need to strengthen your lower back to offset your abs
Thanks, Markxxx!
Doctor said I could start out with swimming in about a week, and abdominal strengthening in three weeks. I was surprised that I could start swimming so soon, because swimming has always strengthened all my muscles… so that’s cool. Thank you for the info on watching my heart rate. I like racing myself, so I tend to overdo it, actually.
Do you think I could start doing yoga stretches now?
And, are you saying that if I can find lower back exercises that don’t tax abdominals, I could probably start doing those sooner than than the 3-weeks-out date my doc suggested for abdominals?
Sorry for the delayed response, by the way.