Rebuilding Core Strength After Splenectomy: A Safe Exercise Guide

A splenectomy is a procedure in which a surgeon removes your spleen. Since it is an abdominal procedure, the surgeon will have cut through your muscles in that area. As a result, you will need to tone your abdominal muscles after you have healed from the procedure. However, you also need to avoid hurting yourself further. After all, the site of a recent surgery is weak and more prone to damage. So, it is important to strike a balance -- to exercise your abdominals enough to build them, but not so much that you re-injure yourself. The key is low-impact abdominal exercise, all of which takes place while lying on your back.

Instructions

• 1

  Lie on the floor with your knees bent and push your back against the floor. This will force your abdominals to engage without twisting or moving them too much.

• 2

  Lift your legs up and move them in a pedaling motion, as if you were riding a bike. Do this for 30 seconds at a time.

• 3

  Put your legs flat on the floor and lift them up to a 90-degree angle. Then lower them back down.

• 4

  Lie on the floor with your knees bent and twist your knees to the left, then to the right. This will work your oblique muscles on the sides of your stomach.