Hi Folks, I recently attended a health and wellness event, where they were offering a 'body composition assessment', which is basically a high tech machine that you stand on and hold a couple of paddles with your hands. It uses 'bioelectrical impedance analysis'. It measures several things, muscle to fat ratio, total body dry lean mass, body fat mass, obesity analysis, segmental lean analysis, among other things. I did fairly well in most categories, but the one that really caught my attention was 'core strength'. I was told the strength in my arms and legs could use some improvement, but my core strength was very high, 105.9%, 100% being ideal for my age and sex. Since my ostomy surgery, five years now, I've been really careful with my exercise routine, reducing the weight in resistance training and being very careful with my abdominals and core. I don't do situps or crunches anymore, but I do do leg lifts, one leg at a time, and I do planks, regularly. I think it has paid off, and I seem to have strengthened my core quite well with the reduction in my routine. I have managed to avoid a hernia so far, and hope I can keep it up. I'm just posting this for other ostomates who might think that planks are out, or that you can't get good enough core strength without other more strenuous exercises.
Terry
p.s. Just thought I'd add, to be clear, I don't just think the core strength is good for my health in general, but that doing so has helped me to avoid hernia. Many ostomates might not be motivated to exercise for physical fitness in general, but if the exercise helps them to avoid hernia, it might be an added incentive.