If you have had surgery, you will know that the recovery period can be the hardest part, particularly if you are usually an active person. However, after you have rested and healed, you will be thinking about getting back into your routine which may include exercise. Depending on where you had your surgery, you may have to adapt your exercise routine for a while, but, there are still a few things you can do until you are back to full fitness.
Stay Positive
It might sound easier said than done but trying to remain positive is the biggest key to regaining your focus and your health. No matter how bad the surgery is, there is always a way that you can regain some fitness. Part of the problem might be that you are going to try and exercise an area that has been operated on recently and you might be scared to start. However, if you are well and there are no complications, then this should not be a problem.
Get Permission from Your Doctor
After surgery, you might be wanting to get back out there as soon as possible. However, you should always take the advice of your doctor before you start. They will know by seeing you and assessing your scars how you are and when the best time to start will be. If you try to begin too soon or start exercising too much, you may cause problems with your recovery. As with any exercise, especially after surgery, if you are getting pain or discomfort, you need to stop and see your doctor again.
Start Slowly
You will be told when you can start to exercise, though at first, you should be taking things easy. Before you can do any rigorous exercise, you might need to have a course of physical therapy to get your muscles working again. There might have been some muscle wastage, so this can take time to recover, plus you might need to learn how to use a limb properly again if there has been damage to the nerves. Depending on the area that had the surgery, you will need different physio exercises. Once you are given the ok, you can start gentle exercising and working your way up to more advanced routines.
Getting Your Confidence Back
Although you will be cautious and a little afraid of returning to your old workouts, after some time to adjust, you should be able to regain your lost fitness. If you have previously been building muscle mass, then with your doctor’s approval, you can go back to the types of routines that you were before. You can learn more about these types of exercise online. After a few weeks, you should start to get your confidence back and be able to train as you did before the surgery.
Whatever type of surgery you had, the road to recovery can be long. However, with the help of your doctor and physical therapist, you can start to regain your strength and fitness.