Push ups

[danielgilboa]

Hi Guys,

What do you think about push ups 6 weeks post?

I tried 10 a couple of times, it gave me some mild pain along the sternum which I don't mind. Can this cause any damage or is the sternum all healed up by now?

I am mainly walking, 3-4m 3-4 times a week but that is getting too easy. I took one mountain bike ride which was lots of fun and I survived. Now I am trying to get some excersize to get some strength back into my muscles.

And I am back to work (why did I do that????)

[Rich]

Daniel,
It's amazing that you are already back to work.
I was told it takes about ten weeks for the sternum to completely heal.
I suppose some of that depends on your age and so forth.

Rich

[JimL]

I was told 2-4 months for the sternum to heal. Take your time, let the sternum heal completely, before you do the push-ups.

[Tom F.]

Push ups right now are a no-no. Your chest is not yet completely healed, its maybe 80-85% according to what I was told. Also, in performing a push up you are lifting a great deal more than you think. It would be better if you could go to a gym that has machines that will allow you to work your chest from several different angles, with lighter weights. Better to start slow right now.

[Creed3]

Hi!
I would think push-ups right now would definately be a no no. It takes a few months for the sternum to completely heal. You don't want anything popping out of place. It's great that you are feeling well enought to do them, but you shouldn't really push too much too soon. I hope your recovery continues to go well.

Take Care!
Gail

[Bryan B]

I always thought the sternum was normally supposed to be healed up at 6-8 weeks. Maybe I'm not as far behind as I thought with my sternum not healed at 11 weeks. My surgeon originally said that I could start playing golf at 8 weeks because my sternum should be fully healed by then, and rehab had me start doing chest/arm exercises at 8 weeks (until I started having pain).

[tobagotwo]

I had read 10-12 weeks for healing the sternum, and of course, everyone has their own speed for these things. I wouldn't put any severe pressure on it for at least three months.

The point of not doing pushups or heavy weights is that they're great until the snap or the rip and the sudden pain. Getting away with something is not the same as building yourself up. Physically, you can do some of the things they warn you not to do. The risk is redamage and a prolonged recovery.

Pushups may assist the muscles, but they will not help the sternum to heal stronger or faster.

Best wishes,

[Tom F.]

Too add to what everyone else has said, my doc told me that there is still some healing going on even at the 6 month point. I was told that at 6 weeks you are appx 80% healed, at three months you are pretty much 100% healed, but the bone still continues to strengthen itself for several months after that. At this point go for light weight exercises with higher reps. It will feel like you are being a sissy, but that is not the case.

[Harpoon]

I got "eight weeks" from my doctor before doing things like driving again and lifting up to 35lbs.

I wasn't out of the hospital until after nine so the point was kind of mute with me, though I did wait a few more weeks before taking my first post-op excusion behind the wheel (and no one in my family knew about it!!!!)


It can take upwards of a year for the sternum to completely heal.


if you're itching to do push-ups, you might try modifying them in some way. Stand at the base of a staircase and put your arms out to set your hands on a step that's about chest level and do that for a while. You might also try doing them while standing away from a wall. Don't try a straight "military" push-up, too much strain on not only your sternum but ALL of the surrounding tissues and yoru ribs and all kinds of other things. I'd wait at LEAST 3 months for something like that and then, only about 10-20 at the most the first few times you do them. Build into it slowly even though you might feel like you can handle more.


A better idea would be to get into a cardiac rehab program or (if you've done rehab and had to stop because of insurance limitations) you might try similar style exercises in a gym. Stay away from strength training for at least 6 months, if not longer, unless your doctor says it's OK, and even then, check to be sure.


I've said it before and I'll say it again, I really miss the rowing machine from when I was in rehab....

On a related note, see my kung-fu post....

[danielgilboa]

Hey,

Thanks for all that valuable information. All of you put together just talked me out doing push ups. I am moving along by my intuition and feelings (I am way beyond the recovery program they gave me at discharge), and this might not be the safest way to go. So I will try some lighter options. I am also seeing my surg next week so I will see what he has to say.

I tried moving from walking to a light run and got instentanious pain near the sternum so stoped immediately.

By the way, I started Shiatzu last week. It's real fun and helps to loosen up some of the "knots" left in my sholders, neck and back. She won't touch my chest for a few more weeks. Try it!

[ALCapshaw2]

How much do you weigh?

How much weight did your surgeon say you could lift at this point in your recovery?

Do the math.

[tobagotwo]

I totally understand the feeling. You want to do things because you feel like you can. For some recovery things, like walking, that's probably fine. Others, maybe not so good.

I agree with the light weights, many reps option until at least three months out. It will do much the same thing for you, but not create the risk of sudden injury that could undo weeks of exceptional healing.

You're full of energy, and you naturally feel bouyed by how well it's gone for you (and you should). But you're not really back to your normal self, yet.

The bone healing is one of those things in nature that you just really can't argue with. Good luck with your other recovery pursuits. It sounds like you're making a shockingly great comeback from OHS.

Best wishes,

[Hank]

I came in here hoping it was a thread about push up bras and was dissapointed to find that I had it all wrong :rolleyes:

[danielgilboa]

Hank - sorry, I don't use one of those...

mark - we seem to be in the minority here.

Anyway, I am taking it a bit slower. I am not doing any thing that will put too much strain on my chest muscles. I realized the muscles were also detached at some point and need healing time. So even if the sternum can take it, the muscles may need longer recovery.

[tobagotwo]

Geez, Mark...I never meant to hint he shouldn't run or exercise. The sternum is a wild card, that's all.

I was doing isometric/isotonic exercises for my chest early on, and agree you should do that as long as your body feels OK with it. The chest muscles do respond to exercise, and it should help healing, as long as you don't overdo the physical weight/stress part and actually rip them.

If Daniel is very slim and light, the pushups may not a problem. If he's of average build, there is a chance they can overstress the healing bone. So why not exercise the chest muscles using techniques that don't create the risk of sternal separation?

I agree. Skin that exercise/recovery/back-to-what-I-was-and-better cat. Just remember there are a million ways to do it. :D

[Granbonny]

You said, Hi Guys..Hope you don't mind a Gal posting. :p :p ...but Six weeks..doing pushups. Yikes...Cannot remember if you are married? If so, turn some of that energy into helping around the house. :p :p Try lifting wet clothes out of a washer :D that should build your arms. :p :p :p But, please No pushups.....It takes a long time for those muscles, bones, cells, ect ..to fall back into place. :p :p .....Bonnie

[Brian]

Daniel,
6 weeks, I would hold off doing the push ups..just ask yourself the question. What happens if you damage something in your sternum...then what..don 't need to go there.. I waited for about 2.5 months, but still was very carefull. I am 3 months plus a week post op and I am sure it won't be a problem, but it is always in the back of my mind. I can use an "Ab Roller" for a set of 50 with 3 reps and have no problem doing it, but I know I would not have wanted to do it at 6 weeks. I would have been too Chicken "poop" to do it..

becareful,

Brian

[Shine_on_Syd]

My advice stick to cardio and lower body excercise for a while. Id didn't start doing upper body Cybex until 4 months post op, I am 15 months post op and I still get aches from the sternum cutting, rib separation and the trauma to the cartilage can be very painful. In fact I ended up in the ER 2 weeks ago from muscular skeletal aggravation related to surgery and again 15 months after the fact.