Kenneth Gardner
Good afternoon Dr Gardner,
My cousin and I were reading The Gleaner and came across your column so, we are seeking your advice on a matter which is currently affecting her. She had laparoscopy surgery done in 1999 and again in 2005. It would now seem that her muscles need strengthening especially the ones in her abdomen, pelvis and leg areas.
She is seeking your advice on what kind of exercises can be added to her programme at the gym. She is new to this gym situation since she has always been 145 lb until these two surgeries where she is now 160 lb. No medications thank God.
She now finds that at 34 she gets tired just to run to catch a bus, to climb three flights of stairs or even to carry the groceries. She is of a light completion and can now see several spider veins on her legs and can actually look at some of the green looking veins in her forearm. Please instruct us in some of the things that she needs to ask the fitness trainer about as she wants to be sure the person chosen to help her is knowledgeable and won't be wasting her time and money. Thanks for your help. Looking forward to hearing from you.
PS Her daily actives require her to sit for long periods of time, walk quite a bit (not every day) and lift things (between 10-20 pounds). She is also tall (5 feet 11 inches) and wears heels almost every day. (Could this be a part of the problem?). We must also state that she is very health conscious where food is concerned and her doctor agrees.
Post-operative exercising
Dear Reader,
Following your surgery, exercise should have been a crucial part of your rehabilitation process. There were no physical restrictions that would have prevented you from pursuing an exercise programme such as walking. A routine post-operative exercise programme would have shortened your recovery and post-operative pain.
By exercising, the burning sensation that you experience would have subsided promptly. After your surgery, restoration was prudent to effect a rapid return to wellness in the shortest possible time. Prolonged rest and inactivity often delay recovery especially in the musculoskeletal system. Progressive pre-operative as well as post-operative exercise programmes decrease the period of recovery.
Controlled exercise during convalescence from soft tissue assists in the resolution and healing by decreasing swelling and scar tissue development. Lack of activity causes generalised muscle loss and specific muscle degeneration surrounding the surgical site. Individuals therefore lose endurance, strength, flexibility and coordination. Thus, reconditioning the injured part without prejudicing the healing process is necessary.
Balance rest and exercise
Post-operative exercising is important. A gym goer demonstrates exercises that work those stubborn abs and legs at Gymkhana at the Hilton Kingston hotel.
You should have kept physically fit while the incision healed by placing emphasis on the maintenance of your strength, flexibility and endurance of your whole body. Disuse of muscle results in muscle loss, muscle contracture, stiffness and impairment in circulation. There should be a proper balance between resting and exercising.
At this stage, you should be focusing on an exercise prescription of resistive exercises. This will increase your muscle strength, power and endurance. Gradually increase the speed of your movement, the number of repetitions and the frequency of your exercise activities. The variety will make the experience more tolerable.
Your exercise instructor should be well aware of a variety of exercises that will relieve the weakness of your abdominal, leg and pelvic muscles.
Some general conditioning can help your overall fitness so you will get tired less easily. This will also improve your weight management, muscle tone and circulation. All these will influence the appearance of your blood vessels.
Dr Kenneth Gardner is an exercise physiologist at Holiday Hills Research Center; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
