Hundreds of thousands of women are daily having surgeries on their abdomens. Procedures include tummy tucks, hysterectomies, breast augmentation, myomectomies, hernia repairs and c-sections. These procedures leave women in lots of pain, poor mobility, decreased function and can cause weakness and even more issues post-operatively.
Any other surgery performed on the body is typically followed up with rehab to address issues and support people during this time - but why not the ones listed above?
We want to go through our top 6 reasons why rehab is imperative after these procedures to hopefully change the game around access and care for women.
Here are our top 6 benefits from rehab after abdominal surgery:
- Reduce post surgical pain and swelling - with any cut on your abdomen, your body will greatly swell. Swelling can be noted on the outside of your body and is absolutely happening on the inside as well. Swelling that lingers for longer than it needs causes unwarranted pain as well as inhibits muscles from firing appropriately. Rehab addresses this with things like hands on lymphatic massage, scar mobility, compression and education on positioning at home.
- Spine mobility - due to the incision and swelling, most abdominal procedures cause a big change in posture for women. Due to severe tightness that comes with incisions, our spines can get very stiff resulting in an overall loss in mobility. Over days, this can inhibit our daily tasks at home, can increase pain in our neck, shoulders and hips and overstretch some muscles causing more weakness. Early rehab can help guide a client through ways to restore posture and regain spinal mobility, setting them up for the most success when they are released for exercise.
- Protect the healing core - very little advice is given to women on how to best protect their incision site and healing core after their surgeries. We love to educate people on how to safely do things like get up from bed, pick up children and even safe pooping to best protect newly healing tissue. The first few weeks after procedures are a vulnerable time and we want to make sure you are moving the best you can and as safely as you can to get the most out of your procedure.
- Early Activation - typically advice given after these procedures are “to do nothing for 6-8 weeks” and then you are released to do everything. By doing nothing, this causes muscles to atrophy and become weaker. While full blown exercise and specific core work is something we wait on, early activation and reconnection back to your core is vital to avoid pain, decrease muscle loss and return to your activity/sport quicker! Post abdominal surgery rehab will guide you through safe and timeline specific activation exercises to help build you back up from the inside out.
- Pelvic Floor Rehab - Studies show that any cut on your abdomen can actually cause our very deep core muscles to go inactive. These muscles include your pelvic floor. Many times women will report issues like leakage, pain with intercourse or heaviness in the days and weeks after abdominal surgeries. Due to lack of education and the patriarchy - these issues are deemed “normal” or a part of being a woman - when in fact, they are in direct correlation to the procedure we had. AKA - totally fixable. Post abdominal surgery rehab addresses early pelvic floor/core activation to help keep it firing and avoid pelvic floor issues.
- Safe return to exercise - a 6 week release to get back to fitness but “listen to your body” is the best guidance clients get from surgeons. Rehab will help take you from your early mobility work, core activation and take you right on into return to your sport of choice.
With rehab, women now have another advocate in their corner to help them navigate a very life altering season. They are able to greatly decrease pain points/issues that can arise from surgery and help them get the best outcomes for themselves in the early days even in the years to come.
If you are scheduled for any abdominal surgery, we highly suggest reaching out to your local pelvic floor PT to get on with them to help you create the best plan for you to restore and rebuild your core!