Exercise & Hernias
A hernia typically occurs in the abdomen when part of an internal organ protrudes through a weak area of muscle. Straining caused by heavy lifting can cause a hernia. Sports activities such as hockey and tennis may place excess stress on groin muscles, a common location for hernias to form. Certain exercises may help prevent hernias and/or keep an existing hernia from getting worse.
Hernia Considerations
Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernia. An inguinal hernia occurs in the lower abdomen in the groin area. Sports-related hernias result from stretching a muscle beyond its limit during the constant twisting and turning of the body at high speeds.
Lifting heavy objects can increase abdominal pressure and the size of an existing hernia. While heavy lifting is often associated with hernias, fewer than 10 percent of hernia patients report a physically strenuous event immediately before diagnosis. The exception to this is workers' comp cases, notes Robert H. Shmerling, M.D., of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
- Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernia.
- While heavy lifting is often associated with hernias, fewer than 10 percent of hernia patients report a physically strenuous event immediately before diagnosis.
Preventing Hernias
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Daily exercises that increase flexibility and promote muscle strength in and around the pelvic area may help prevent hernias. Always bending from the knees rather than the waist while weightlifting or carrying other heavy objects also can help guard against an inguinal hernia. Remember to center your body over your feet as you lift.
Exercise Recommendations
Moderately intense aerobic exercises such as swimming and riding a stationary bike are generally safe as they won't encourage a hernia to bulge outward, but check with your doctor before beginning an exercise regimen to make sure the exercises are appropriate for you. The surrounding water pressure during swimming can help control the hernia, while an exercise bike works the large leg muscles without placing undue strain on the abdominal area. Once your doctor approves, aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every other day.
Hernia Treatment
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Contact your doctor right away if you develop any sudden pain in the hernia. Placing an ice pack on a sports hernia several times a day along with anti-inflammatory medications may help relieve discomfort. Hernias that fail to respond to home remedies may require surgery to repair the tear in the muscle wall. Refrain from heavy lifting or straining for six to eight weeks following open or traditional surgery. Patients who undergo laparoscopic hernia repair can usually resume normal activities such as walking up stairs and light lifting as soon as they feel up to it.
- Contact your doctor right away if you develop any sudden pain in the hernia.
- Patients who undergo laparoscopic hernia repair can usually resume normal activities such as walking up stairs and light lifting as soon as they feel up to it.
Related Articles
References
- American Osteopathic Association: Misdiagnosed Muscle Strain Can Be A Pain
- MedlinePlus; Hernia; June 2011
- NetDoctor; What Exercises Can Be Done With a Hernia?; February, 2006
- Fitzgibbons RJ, Forse RA. Groin hernias in adults. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(8):756-763. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1404068
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Definition of HARUSPEX. Updated 2020.
- Mahadevan V. Essential Anatomy of the Abdominal Wall. In: Kingsnorth A, LeBlanc K, eds. Management of Abdominal Hernias. Fourth. London: Springer Science & Business Media; 2013:25-55.
- M BS. SRB’s Manual of Surgery. Sixth. London: Jaypee Brothers, Medical Publishers Pvt. Limited; 2019:739-776.
- Wang H, Naghavi M, Allen C, Barber R, Bhutta ZA, Carter A. Global, regional, and national life expectancy, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes of death, 1980–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. The Lancet. 2016;388(10053):1459-1544. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31012-1
- Hoffmann H, Walther D, Bittner R, Köckerling F, Adolf D, Kirchhoff P. Smaller inguinal hernias are independent risk factors for developing chronic postoperative inguinal pain (CPIP). Annals of Surgery. 2020;271(4):756-764. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000003065
- Dhua AK, Aggarwal SK, Mathur N, Sethi G. Bilateral congenital diaphragmatic hernia. APSP J Case Rep. 2012;3(3):20. PMID: 23061036
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Writer Bio
Karen Hellesvig-Gaskell is a broadcast journalist who began writing professionally in 1980. Her writing focuses on parenting and health, and has appeared in “Spirituality & Health Magazine" and “Essential Wellness.” Hellesvig-Gaskell has worked with autistic children at the Fraser School in Minneapolis and as a child care assistant for toddlers and preschoolers at the International School of Minnesota, Eden Prairie.