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How Much Weight Can You Lift With a Hernia? Working out with a hernia can be dangerous and, if left untreated, can worsen the situation. Even though it’s a non-emergency condition, treating it on time would be best.
You may undergo surgery and rest for a few months. Besides surgery, do you know how much weight you can lift with a hernia?
Keep reading to know more;
- Can You lift weights with a hernia?
- Which exercises can a person do post-hernia surgery?
- And much more!
How Much Weight Can You Lift With a Hernia?
Hernia affects the abdominal part of your body, and weight lifting can further deteriorate the condition. Lifting weights can stress the groin—the region located at the end of the abdomen and the beginning of the leg. So, avoid doing HIIT workouts such as sit-ups, deadlifts and planks. Instead, go for low-impact exercises with a hernia, i.e. jogging, walking and gentle yoga.
Related: How to Workout As a Single Mom?
What is Hernia & How It Occurs?
Gym instructors often advise weight lifters not to go hard on themselves as it can cause a hernia, which is quite true.
A hernia occurs when the abdominal wall goes through wear and tear during intense activity.
In a hernia, the tissue or any other body part protrudes from the wall of the muscles and causes the affected area to swell.
Sometimes, pressing the bump can push back the tissue in its place. If it gets stuck, it causes incarceration leading to strangulation.
Incarceration is when the tissues trap in the hernia sac and can’t go back with an abdominal massage.
The trapping of tissues causes strangulation. It’s a condition that cuts off blood supply to the trapped tissue. The blockage of the blood supply kills time and infects it, releasing toxins into the bloodstream.
If the strangulated hernia is not treated immediately, it can cause death. That said, hernia occurs in different areas and forms which are.
1. Inguinal Hernia
In an inguinal hernia, some fatty tissue protrudes into the groin and causes discomfort.
It occurs in one of two passages through the abdominal wall in the groin. The passage is known as the inguinal canal.
In men, the inguinal canal is the passage for the spermatic cord. In women, it consists of a round ligament that supports the uterus.
This type of hernia is more common in men than women. According to a study, around 25% of men get an inguinal hernia at some point.
Related: How can I make my strength training more effective?
2. Femoral Hernia
A femoral hernia occurs when fatty tissue pokes into the groin at the top of the thigh. The fatty tissue protrudes through the weak point in the muscle wall (abdominal wall).
It results in a lump or swelling. According to National Health Services, this form of hernia affects women more than men because they have a wide pelvis.
3. Umbilical Hernia
In an umbilical hernia, fatty tissue or part of the intestine extends beyond the abdomen near the belly button.
It’s mostly common in children, and roughly 10% of adults get it at some point.
4. Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal hernia is when part of the stomach herniates through a weakness in the hiatus of the diaphragm.
The diaphragm is a small opening that connects the oesophagus with the neck, neck to chest, and chest with the stomach.
The cause of hiatal hernia is unknown, but it affects people over 50.
5.Incisional Hernia
According to the National Library of Medicine, an incisional hernia occurs near the surgical spot in the abdomen.
They do not cause severe discomfort. In rare cases, if the bowel traps in a hernia opening, it can cause obstruction (blockage of stool passageway) or strangulation (cut off blood supply).
How to Treat Hernia?
If you experience mild groin or abdomen discomfort or sense any bump, consult a doctor first.
The doctor may give you a massage to push the tissue back in its place. However, if the massage doesn’t work, the doctor may recommend you to a surgeon.
The surgeon will advise you to go for surgery. For treating hernia, different types of surgeries exist.
- Open Surgery: In open surgery, the doctor puts a cut on the affected area and pushes back the tissue in its place.
- Laparoscopic Surgery: In this surgery, the doctor applies minor cuts, and treats hernia with the intrusion of tools.
- Robotic Surgery: In robotic surgery, the surgeon handles everything from the operating room and performs the surgery from the console.
Can You Workout After Hernia Surgery?
The most asked question after hernia surgery is when can I get back to my workout routine? You’ll find an answer to this below.
- Do nothing for a month, take medications on time and be careful with walking around.
- Once a month has passed, listen to your body, and if you feel like you are ready to work out, go for low-impact workouts.
- Low-impact workouts include walking, light jogging and yoga etc. Such exercises prevent stress on your abdominal area and don’t let it deteriorate the hernia.
- Stick to low-impact exercises until six months have passed. After six months, you can get back to heavy training.
All in all, it’s your body, and you should listen to it. Get back to the fitness journey if you feel like it.
Workouts to Avoid Post-Hernia Surgery
After hernia surgery, it’s best to stick to low-impact workouts because they do not affect your treated area. As far as high-intensity exercises are concerned, it would help if you avoided them. They include;
- Deadlifts
- Sit-ups
- Crunches
- Weight lifting
- Climbing stairs
- Jump roping
- Speed walking
- Push-ups
- Burpees
- High knees
These exercises can worsen the surgical spot by stressing the groin and abdominal area. So, avoid them unless you’ve fully recovered.
Related: How to Speed Up Muscle Strain Recovery?
Wrap-Up
A hernia is when a part of the organ or fatty tissue protrudes through the walls of weak spots in the muscles. So, if you’re an athlete, you may get a hernia once in a while.
Doing HIIT results in a hernia and, if left untreated for months or years, can result in death. Consult a doctor immediately if you feel a mild bulging in the abdomen or groin.
FAQs
- How much can I lift with a hernia?
Given the nature of a hernia and the cause, avoid heavy lifting whenever possible. Since weightlifting can potentially worsen your condition and induce more herniation, it is best to avoid it while recovering from the hernia.
- What not to do when you have a hernia?
When you can, avoid hard lifting if you have a hernia to prevent it from growing worse. Groin stress occurs caused by lifting.
- When you need to lift, don’t stoop. Use the legs, not the back, to lift objects.
- Consume foods high in fibre and get enough water.
- Keep your weight within a healthy range.
- Can I do push-ups with a hernia?
No, experts do not recommend doing push-ups with a hernia.
