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Ostomy-safe situps or stomach toning exercises?

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Posted 3/27/2011 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

Thanks to my ostomy I've been able to eat more and also got a new job (which is awesome!) that requires less physical activity than my old one. Because of that, I'm a little flabbier than I wish! I'm going to start working out and I know that most things are fine, but the one thing that worries me is stomach exercises, like situps. I don't want to cause a hernia! (Though I do have that mesh stuff around my stoma to lessen the risk of a hernia). If it matters, I had my surgery done laproscopically.

Does anyone have any ideas for stomach exercises that will be safe for my stoma? Thanks :)

Posted 3/27/2011 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
ive been doing situps, but i also bought one of those ab circle pro things, and it works pretty good.
Posted 3/28/2011 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
So situps are safe? Is there anything I should look out for?
Posted 3/28/2011 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
i dont know if they are safe, but ive been doing them :D
Posted 3/28/2011 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
I don't do them as not much stomach muscle tone left after too many surgeries. Think it depends on what and how many surgeries. Probably best to ask stoma nurse or your doctor. Hernias are something stoma people are supposed to be aware of and apoparently we should be careful with heavy lifting etc but tbh never bothered about it. Have carried very heavy objects and used to do weight training at the gym and not had any problems but then don't push my stomach too much.
Posted 3/28/2011 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
ooh, something I forgot to put, pilates would be good as it strenthens core muscles round stomach and back and I also do tai chi. Seems very gentle and relaxed but when I started the sweat was pouring off me, not as gentle as it looks. Think the slow movements actually take a lot of muscle control and tone up and keep you supple.
Posted 3/28/2011 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
firstly well done on considering some exercise! good on you. I'm a fitness trainer and had an ileo for a while - i exercised and even ran a 10k in those 10 weeks. Anyway.. suggest you contact a physiotherapist who can put a programme of abdominal exercises for you. I'd avoid the classic 'sit up' and focus more on pilates style exercises which will strengthen not just your abdominals but your all your core muscles. Exercises like the plank, side plank etc and using a swiss ball would be perfect. But you must work within your limits and if you feel any pain then stop.

I don't know where you are, but in the UK we have this info on our ileo site..

http://www.iasupport.org/factsheets_exercise.aspx - they may be able to help you.

good luck !!
S
Posted 3/28/2011 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, Ironmum!
I don't have the money for a trainer or anything, but I checked out the website you gave and it talks about a factsheet, but I can't figure out how to find the factsheet....am I missing something?

Stripey, thanks for the idea... I will contact my stoma nurse.
Posted 3/30/2011 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
I talked to my ostomy nurse and like these responses above, the answer seems kind of fuzzy. I think I'll stay away from them for now until I hear some solid info.

Thanks for all your help guys!
Posted 4/5/2011 5:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi 80's chick I'm new here
Noticed your question last week and was wondering if you can hula hoop with the ostomy I don't see y u couldn't but if done right for exercise it is a really good core work out, hula hoop w/water in it and one that is not to big like child size makes you worker harder cause u have to do it faster and this is no sit up or crunch :-)
Posted 4/5/2011 10:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hah! I never thought about that. I don't know if you could...you'd have to be careful not to slam it into your stoma, but I guess I could otherwise!
Posted 4/5/2011 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
As beneficial as walking is, I am not sure how far reaching it is to help strengthen and tone without some kind of exercise. But that is the extent of hubby's exercise at the moment.

I just ordered through Edgepark a NuHope "flat panel nu-support belt" as I am paranoid about a hernia uf he over exerts. I just want to be pro-active so when he is going to be engaged in activities or things around the house that require extra physical exertion that there is support there to possibly help not developing a hernia. That being said, I would think something like this might not be a bad idea to use while exercising??? Just my thought and opinion.

I spoke with his Ostomy nurse at Mayo clinic yesterday and ran various things by her (currently dealing with a skin irritation issue) and she thought this was a very good idea. I ordered the ventilated cool comfort band which will be easier on the skin unstead of the regular elastic one.
Posted 4/5/2011 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
I got this brochure from my local ostomy association.


http://www.omnigon.com.au/images/brochures/Omnigon%20Stoma%20Support%20Guide.pdf

Suggests that normal sit-ups are safe. My surgeon's comments on exercise were pretty simple - if it doesn't hurt it's ok...
Posted 4/5/2011 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
That was great, smackie! Thank you.
Posted 4/6/2011 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
if you just want to strenghthen your core, you can do things like stand with one foot up, like a flamingo, i don't know exactly how it works, but it makes your stomach stronger, and watch your posture! or just suck in and hold it, then let out whenever you are just sitting around. or dancing!
Posted 4/6/2011 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
I'm doing my first salsa class tonight (girlfriend has been trying to get me to do it for a year)...hopefully my core is strong enough to handle it!

I agree with the standing on one leg. Other similar one I do for posture and for glute strength is one legged squats.
Posted 4/6/2011 10:30 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah...as a dancer I don't think just standing on one leg will do the trick for me. Since I had my surgery laproscopically I'm not really starting from ground zero. But maybe I'll just do some ballet exercises...that could help!
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