When can I practise sports after inguinal hernia surgery?

• One of the most important issues for patients who have undergone inguinal hernia surgery is when they can safely return to sport.
• Among the factors that determine the necessary recovery time is the type of surgical approach used in the surgery and the technique.
• The inclusion of sport after surgery should be progressive and mainly weight training should be avoided until after 3 or 4 months.

When someone is going to undergo surgery, whether for an inguinal hernia or anything else, the main thing they want to know is when they will be well again. In the case of active people who practise sport regularly, what interests them most is to know when they will be able to resume their sporting activity so that they are not left in the dry dock for a long time.

In this article, we will try to shed some light on the matter, although as we always say, the most important thing is to discuss it with the specialist who has performed your surgery, as he or she will be the person who can best advise you in your particular case.

During the first 3 to 4 weeks, it is advisable not to do any strenuous exercise, and it is vital to avoid lifting weights that cause pressure on the abdominal area and may cause the hernia to reappear.

The patient can return to daily activities after 1 to 2 weeks, depending on whether the repair is done laparoscopically or by conventional surgery, mainly because of the care of the surgical wound, which is less in laparoscopy.

The patient can walk without any problems after a week, with slight discomfort being normal. If the patient's work involves a lot of physical effort, he or she should wait 3 to 4 months.

From this point onwards, depending on how you feel and the opinion of your specialist, you can start to do sport progressively, starting by walking short distances, for example 20-30 minutes 3 times a week.

Another sport that can be started gently is swimming, which strengthens the lumbar and abdominal areas, although care should be taken when getting in and out of the pool to avoid overexertion.

It is important to continue without excessive force until the third month of recovery, when you can resume your daily sporting activity.

In any case, remember that if you have any doubts, discuss them with your doctor or take it easy, it is better not to force yourself and thus avoid the need for surgery again. If rest and recovery are carried out correctly, it is very rare for the inguinal hernia to recur.

Although it depends on each patient, it is advisable not to resume weight lifting until 4 months after surgery, when the tissues in the repaired area are in perfect condition. 

Likewise, as we have pointed out, this activity should be started progressively, both because of the inguinal hernia and because of the time that has passed without doing this sport, thus avoiding other possible injuries.

In the case of competitive training, it is usually resumed after the third and fourth month, as the intensity is usually higher than daily exercise and a reintervention could be devastating for the athlete.

If you are considering surgery for Inguinal Hernia, remember that at Operarme we can offer you this service privately, at a fixed price and all-inclusive. 

Request a free surgical assessment consultation with our specialist in General Surgery in the following link: