Recovery after surgery

[Dexter]

Hi guys,

I recently started teaching ST (November of 2017) and am slowly building up my number of regular students. One student in particular (lady in her 50s) who is now a regular, as she enjoys the stretches and helps her relieve pain has a question regarding how soon can she start stretching again after surgery. She is scheduled to have a surgery for inguinal hernia. I am wondering if anyone on the forums have experience with having a surgery, and how long before they can resume their normal activities after. To be fair, this would of course vary depending on the scale of the surgery and the speed of their recovery.

 

Would like to hear your thoughts, thank you in advance!

[dannyg]

Sorry for not posting earlier. 

 

I'm not 100% on this, but I often have patients follow Caesarian sections or natural childbirth. Usual waiting time for resuming abdominal exercises or strenuous exercise following surgery is around 6 weeks. Depending on the person.

 

However, most doctors suggest doing gentle cardio and light work after 2-3 weeks. 

 

My suggestion would be about cultivating awareness of her body, so she doesn't push herself too hard. But standing work, ankle movements, shoulder work, head and neck work should be fine. Awareness is the key, focussing on the feeling - rather than the end position. 

 

Hope that helps! 

[Dexter]

@dannyg Your suggestion about body awareness is spot on! I like to remind my students to feel what their bodies are giving them on a day to day basis. 

Also thank you on the timeline to resume activities, I did suggest for my student to talk with her doctor and only start with light gentle movements when she gets the green light to go ahead.