What activities should you avoid with an umbilical hernia?
Exercises to avoid include:
- Some core exercises such as crunches, planks, sit-ups and some more advanced Pilates exercises.
- Heavy lifting, such as high intensity deadlifts and squats.
- Contact sports or high impact physical activities.
Is it OK to exercise with an umbilical hernia?
In many children, umbilical hernias can often be resolved with simple exercises instead of surgery. For adults, however, surgery is often required, and gentle exercise helps during recovery.

What should I avoid after umbilical hernia surgery?
Adults should therefore avoid drinking alcohol, driving, operating machinery or signing legal documents for 24 hours after the procedure. Normal activities can gradually be resumed over time when they can be carried out without feeling any pain.
How long after umbilical hernia can I exercise?
It is recommended that patients who have undergone an umbilical hernia surgery avoid any strenuous activity for at least six weeks.
What exercises are safe with a hernia?
If your hernia doctor says it’s safe for you to exercise, you should stick to low-impact activities that won’t exacerbate your hernia symptoms or strain the area where your hernia is located….The best exercises for people with hernias

- Swimming.
- Walking.
- Light jogging.
- Gentle yoga.
- Cycling.
Can I still exercise with a hernia?
Abdominal exertion or heavy exercise is one cause of abdominal hernias. If you already have an abdominal hernia, you must be extra careful when you exercise. After hernia surgery, there are exercises you can do to help with healing and to increase core strength to prevent a hernia from recurring.
What exercises can I do after umbilical hernia surgery?
Button pulls: Lie on your back with your knees bent (feet on the bed) and hands on your hips. Take a deep breath in through your nose, then, as you breathe out, pull in your belly button towards your spine, hold for a few seconds, then relax and breathe normally.
Can we do exercise after hernia operation?
A Safe Return to Sports and Exercise Wait to practice your favorite core exercise after hernia repair with mesh (or without) for four to six weeks, unless recommended otherwise. Avoid strenuous activities, especially heavy lifting, for four to six weeks or as advised by your surgeon.
What kind of exercise can you do with a hernia?
The best exercises for people with hernias Walking. Light jogging. Gentle yoga. Cycling.
What abdominal exercises are safe with a hernia?
Pelvic Tilts
- Step 1: Lie on your back.
- Step 2: Bend your knees, with your feet remaining on the bed or floor.
- Step 3: Place your hands under your lower back.
- Step 4: Tilt your pelvis forward, straightening the spine and activating your abdominal muscles.
- Step 5: Hold for a few seconds.
Can exercise make a hernia worse?
Exercise can be one of the effective ways of managing some chronic health conditions, including hernia. However, when done improperly or with certain exercises, it may also worsen a hernia and exacerbate its symptoms. You can exercise if you have a hernia.
Can you do squats with umbilical hernia?
Exercises to avoid If you have an abdominal hernia, the following exercises should be avoided. These activities can put a strain on the upper abdomen, causing an exacerbation of your symptoms: Situps. Squats or lifts with weights.
What exercises are safe after hernia surgery?
Leg exercises
- Ankle flex: Flex and stretch your ankles, 10 repetitions at a time.
- Knee pushes: Strengthen the back of your thighs by lying flat on your back and pushing the back of your knee (one at a time) down into the bed, hold for a few seconds and relax.
How do I strengthen my core after hernia surgery?
Pelvic floor exercises, seated knee extensions and forward lunges are also good exercises to try. Remember, start off slowly and don’t push yourself. Listen to your body, and your surgeon, in order to build up your abdominal muscle strength safely.
How do you know if your umbilical hernia burst?
The presence of discoloration, ulceration or a rapid increase in size of the umbilical hernia signals impending rupture and should prompt the physician to reduce the intra-abdominal pressure.
Can I lift light weights with a hernia?
Due to the nature of a hernia and the cause, heavy lifting should be avoided wherever possible, weightlifting could potentially cause further herniation and deterioration of your condition so it would be better not to weight lift whilst you have the hernia.
What are your restrictions after hernia surgery?
Activity. There are no medical or physical restrictions on activity after surgery. That means it is OK to walk, climb stairs, lift, have sexual intercourse, mow the lawn, or exercise as long as it doesn’t hurt. In fact, returning to normal activity as soon as possible will most likely enhance your recovery.
What exercises can you do with a hernia?
Can I exercise with an umbilical hernia?
If you have an umbilical hernia, you may need to modify your workout by reducing intensity or duration and putting less stress on your abdomen. Exercise options include: spinning or outdoor biking, swimming or water exercise, and walking. Walking is low impact and won’t strain the abs.
When can I exercise after cataract surgery?
In the week after surgery, you can do low-impact physical activities, such as: Avoid bending and lifting anything over 10 to 15 pounds, including laundry and groceries. This can increase pressure in your eyes and interfere with proper healing. At 2 weeks, your doctor may clear you for moderate-level activities, such as:
When can I exercise after a hernia surgery?
If you decide to treat your hernia with surgery, allow yourself three weeks of recovery time, during which you may perform light activity. After six weeks, you can resume strenuous exercise. Just be sure to increase the amount and intensity of exercise little by little, and if you’re experiencing any discomfort, take a break.
What are the rules for postoperative recovery after cataract surgery?
Here’s a list of our postoperative rules: For one week after surgery, no lifting heavier than 30 lbs, no swimming, and no eye make up like mascara or eyeliner. It is okay if the eye gets wet during a shower, just lightly pat it dry.