Exercises for Strengthening Abdominals with a Stoma

hi

i have been thinking (worrying)about hernias. i do get a bit of puffing out around my stoma sometimes and i was wondering if aside from support belts and careful lifting are there excercises you can do to strenghten your abdominal muscles. would something like polatis help? anyone tried this and found it benefitial?

want to try to avoid things getting worse if possible.

thanks

margie

Hi Margie ... I asked my physio whether she  could give me anything to do that and strengthen my back and core stability, and she said she wouldn't as it may compromise the hernia further (mine is huge) .... I do gentle yoga with all the elderly ladies in my village and that does help stretch things out a bit and keep things a bit more supple, so I suppose pilates would do something similar. Good luck, am sure someone else may have different ideas ... I suspect it depends on how fit you were pre op too?

Take care,

Rach xx

Same with me -- I was cautioned to watch the abdominal exercises (I have a small hernia developing near the stoma). Docs' words -- if not done properly it will cause more harm than good.



So I wear a support belt when I am active (gardening, hiking, swimming in choppy water, major housework) and then do the 'engage stomach muscle' clenches/holds to help strengthen every time I think of it.



One exercise that I was told I could try was to lie on the floor and raise my feet a few inches from the floor and hold. I could tell right off that this was too much for my abs.



Be careful. I'd go the gentle yoga route/stretching, remembering to engage your tummy muscles with bends and turns.



All the best,

Beatrice

I to have a peristomal hernia.I went to see my doc and she said if I didnt have good stomach muscles before it was to late to get them now.Once the hernias start you either stop the lifting or its surgery.They can put a stainless mesh inside around the stoma or move the entire stoma to your other side and fix the herniated side.My doc said try the belts first but you have to change your life style.Im a welder and 52 I have a long way to retirement and dont think I could make a career change now.The moneys to good and this dog cant be retrained.So its a coin toss what to do.

bikerboy greg