Some things in life we would rather avoid, but can’t. Most of us have experienced the painful end to long relationships, or heartfelt goodbyes at the airport. Some of us, for one reason or another, have unfortunately wound up in the operating theatre.

Whether your surgery is a result of an injury or condition, or simply the acquisition of an impressive new chest or a smaller nose, nobody enjoys the ill effects associated with surrendering to the surgical blade.It’s been less than six months since I lay in a hospital bed with what felt like two giant packs stuffed into my head through each nostril. There was a permanent blockage that needed to be permanently unblocked, and although not a major procedure, I was totally out of action for two weeks and couldn’t exercise for a month. Although TV, internet and a snazzy touch screen radio did much to alleviate my pain, the ordeal is one I do not wish to repeat. Surgery leaves you exhausted and incapacitated. To make matters worse, since activity levels and metabolic rate usually plummet, the stage is set for unsightly increases in body fat. Being under general anesthetic alone is no small matter. While the victims in the Saw films may have been able to spring into action the moment they awoke, we cannot. It takes time for things to return back to normal, and exercise is no exception. Exercising too soon after surgery carries a number of risks. Exercise elevates heart rate and increases blood flow around your system.

This may cause bleeding and exacerbate treated areas, delaying healing and possibly even making your situation worse. At the right time however, exercise can serve as a valuable recovery aid. Your doctor may actually prescribe various special exercises to assist in your recovery. If not, they may indicate exactly how much rest you need before returning to your usual exercise routine. If they don’t tell you, be sure to ask. Physiotherapy may be required, and could help to avoid the possibility of enduring unnecessary chronic problems for the rest of your days. If you don’t require physiotherapy, then you might wish to seriously consider hitting the gym or hiring a personal trainer. Just as you wouldn’t speed through red lights in your car, when it comes to resuming exercise you must also await the appropriate signal.

Your doctor is the only person who is qualified to give you the green light. If you jump the lights, you’ll have more than a warden’s ticket to worry about, and you may receive a first class ticket back to the operating theatre. With a detailed letter from your doctor, fitness professionals can safely plan your quickest and most efficient route back to physical prowess. I’ve seen many such letters, and I while I don’t claim to understand each and every medical term they contain, they are certainly invaluable tools in providing the most appropriate fitness solutions for recovering clients. I must confess we fitness addicts are the worst when it comes to forced lay-offs. I certainly wouldn’t want to spoil your pleasant Sunday routine with the horror stories I’ve heard about those who have attempted to do too much too soon following various types of surgery.

Fitness fanatics often think they know best, but unfortunately this is rarely the case.

For minor operations you could need as little as one week’s rest, but for major operations it can obviously be a lot more.

Naturally, different types of surgery will call for different measures.

Never fear however, because your body is a wonderful machine with the extraordinary ability to adapt and heal. For the more common types of surgery, there are guidelines out there for you to follow and plenty of help at hand. Knee surgery is fairly common, especially among athletes. Knee operations don’t necessarily spell the end of an athlete’s career, as many succeed in making a full competitive comeback following rehab. If you are not an athlete therefore, your chances of making a fully functional return to your everyday routine are good. After breast surgery, simple shoulder mobility exercises can help get you back in action sooner. In the early stages, even performing simple repetitions of the movements associated with raising a fork or glass during eating and drinking can be helpful. After a hysterectomy, easy core conditioning exercises for the muscles around your trunk will help the rehabilitation process. A stability ball may prove especially useful at this point, simply sitting on it and flexing the right muscles can provide an effective workout. The principle of progression is one of the most important foundations of exercise science. This holds true more than ever in a rehabilitation context. Pre-operative fitness levels must be reached gradually and progressively, little by little. During any exercise programme, and particularly when you are in such a vulnerable state, always pay attention to distinguishing between discomfort and pain. Discomfort means your body is passing through an adaptive process, which is what we want. Pain on the other hand means you’ve gone too far. Once you’ve passed the green light, there are speed limits to observe.

Scorching your way full speed down the fitness track is certainly not the way to go.

Source: The Sunday Times, October 12, 2008

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