Allow muscles to heal but exercise can even help if done properly.

Clearly you need time for the muscles to heal together and this takes a minimum o f6 weeks.

There is great variation in the opinions of when it is best for you to resume exercise and so I would defer to your operating surgeon who will have the best knowledge of your anatomy (i.e., how far apart) and repair (i.e., how tight?) after surgery.

However, the correct exercise if done properly  can not only reinforce but enhance the repair as well. Please ask your surgeon for quidance. However, I highly recommend core strenghtening exercises as advocated by Pilates and Yoga instructors; NOT the crunches as advised by body builders.

I hope this helps.

Like all surgeries you will need about 6wks to heal completely. However, recovery occurs in phases. You can usually begin some light cardiovascular exercise in about 2-3wks and some upper body exercise in about 3-4wks and do more from there. As for the crunches and abdominal exercises - it is best to wait about 3-6mo. We have a personal trainer that specifically deals with postop recovery. That is the best way to learn how to do core strengthening without hurting your surgical outcome. Always check with your surgeon as he or she will have their own preferences.

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