Being active
Exercise
Ostomates quite often find the adaptation period post-surgery to be a challenging time and so it can be quite difficult to find the motivation to exercise.
However, it should be noted that despite its general physical and mental benefits, exercise can be further beneficial to ostomates in recovery. For example, keeping your weight healthy and muscles strong can help to prevent the development of parastomal hernias.
Exercise and activity can also give you a ‘feel-good’ factor, acting as a confidence booster which is what some ostomates may need after their surgery. Exercise can also enhance your appetite and aid your body’s circulation, which is a key component in your recovery process.
Having a stoma should not stop you from participating in exercise and sports, although it is recommended to avoid contact sports, as this could cause injury to your stoma if you were to be involved in a heavy collision.
There are many activities suited to people with stomas, to find out more you can read the Colostomy UK Active Ostomates Booklet1 by clicking here.
Tips for getting back into physical activities:
- Gradually build up your strength and stamina. For example, walk rather than run or gently kick a ball in the garden rather than getting stuck into a rough 5-a-side football match
- Empty or replace your pouch before exercising
- Consider wearing a support belt
- Keep hydrated
1. Active Ostomates® Sport and fitness after stoma surgery, Colostomy UK. November 2019. https://www.colostomyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Active-Ostomates-Sport-and-Fitness-after-stoma-surgery-2019.pdf