Ab belt for support
- Thread starter 2121
- Start date
lisaannjam
Cathlete
Hi Melissa,
I'm not Cathe, but I wanted to let you know that if the doctor told you to wear a support belt for ab workouts, I, personally would definitely wear it for Kickboxing and any other workout for that matter. We use all of our muscle groups in these videos in some way or another. And in kickboxing, you are working your abdominal muscles more than you realize. I have several laparotomy scars (just like c-section scars) and I know it took me several years to really strenghthen those muscles. If you have a potential or a hiatal hernia, (I'm not quite sure if you have one now), then you may need the belt for support.
Maybe someone else who wears one can fill you in some more on what it's like to wear one while working out. I'm wondering, were you exercising prior to the c-section? I'm guessing your doc has good reason to believe you are predisposed to getting a hernia?
Hope that helps.
I'm not Cathe, but I wanted to let you know that if the doctor told you to wear a support belt for ab workouts, I, personally would definitely wear it for Kickboxing and any other workout for that matter. We use all of our muscle groups in these videos in some way or another. And in kickboxing, you are working your abdominal muscles more than you realize. I have several laparotomy scars (just like c-section scars) and I know it took me several years to really strenghthen those muscles. If you have a potential or a hiatal hernia, (I'm not quite sure if you have one now), then you may need the belt for support.
Maybe someone else who wears one can fill you in some more on what it's like to wear one while working out. I'm wondering, were you exercising prior to the c-section? I'm guessing your doc has good reason to believe you are predisposed to getting a hernia?
Hope that helps.
2121
Cathlete
Thanks for the reply. I basically did cardio or nothing before c-section which was in 2001. I hav been working out cardio and strength for the last year approx. 6 days per week, but not abs consistently. Anyhow, the Dr. said there was potential for a hernia, but I never had one before. I would be interested to hear if anyone wears one, but lack of response leads me to think they don't. I talked to someone at an exercise store who said they have different size belts and he would help me.
lisaannjam
Cathlete
Hi Melissa,
Sounds like you've got a plan. I figured you were probably an advanced exerciser! You're on Cathe's forum afterall. Good luck and I'd be interested to know how you make out. You know from time to time my lower back gives me trouble during Kickboxing workouts and I bet the extra support, provided by the belt, wouldn't be a bad idea!
Have a great day!
Sounds like you've got a plan. I figured you were probably an advanced exerciser! You're on Cathe's forum afterall. Good luck and I'd be interested to know how you make out. You know from time to time my lower back gives me trouble during Kickboxing workouts and I bet the extra support, provided by the belt, wouldn't be a bad idea!
Have a great day!
Hi Melissa,
If the doctor told you to wear it for ab work then go ahead, but if you've been doing cardio for six days a week for a year, after the c-section, and are not feeling any pain, I would ask before I put it on. The kickboxing, I'd ask about too before I start, as I can see arguments for and against wearing a brace during that and it's better to check. And if you're unsure about wearing a brace to began with, get a second opinion, you are the one in your body, you know it best. If you feel this isn't the best advice or your not sure about the advice, find someone who can give you another opinion that you trust. Only takes a little bit of time and you'll be sure, or have questions to ask doc #1 so you know what, why, and how, their treatment is suppose to work and then you can decide which doc to go with.
Also there is a rule to braces, they help the muscle do it's work. Helping means the muscle isn't doing all the work itself (good, if the muscle has been injured or has had surgery). In turn it is much harder to strength a muscle that is in a brace, as even just the standard set of exercises it will not have the stress it would without the brace. And if you wear a brace when you don't need it, you will lose muscle strength, if you do it often. If the muscle only works half as hard in the brace, the normal stress that it is use to taking is less (say like you doing cardio without the brace and now doing with the brace, stress on abs/back will be less), and if you don't put that stress back on it after a certain amount of time, it loses what you built up. You won't be completely weak, but whatever help, the brace does will subtract from your current strength in the abs, and maybe even in the back. Time is different for everyone; some people can go a couple of weeks and not lose strength some people lose strength in a couple of days.
I'd also ask the doctor to give you some strengthening exercises for both the back and the abs, to do without the brace. Or with it, if you're really still that weak from the c-section. This you'll be sure to get stronger and get rid of that brace faster, and be able to do whatever workout or exercise you want without worry.
Good luck,
Kit
If the doctor told you to wear it for ab work then go ahead, but if you've been doing cardio for six days a week for a year, after the c-section, and are not feeling any pain, I would ask before I put it on. The kickboxing, I'd ask about too before I start, as I can see arguments for and against wearing a brace during that and it's better to check. And if you're unsure about wearing a brace to began with, get a second opinion, you are the one in your body, you know it best. If you feel this isn't the best advice or your not sure about the advice, find someone who can give you another opinion that you trust. Only takes a little bit of time and you'll be sure, or have questions to ask doc #1 so you know what, why, and how, their treatment is suppose to work and then you can decide which doc to go with.
Also there is a rule to braces, they help the muscle do it's work. Helping means the muscle isn't doing all the work itself (good, if the muscle has been injured or has had surgery). In turn it is much harder to strength a muscle that is in a brace, as even just the standard set of exercises it will not have the stress it would without the brace. And if you wear a brace when you don't need it, you will lose muscle strength, if you do it often. If the muscle only works half as hard in the brace, the normal stress that it is use to taking is less (say like you doing cardio without the brace and now doing with the brace, stress on abs/back will be less), and if you don't put that stress back on it after a certain amount of time, it loses what you built up. You won't be completely weak, but whatever help, the brace does will subtract from your current strength in the abs, and maybe even in the back. Time is different for everyone; some people can go a couple of weeks and not lose strength some people lose strength in a couple of days.
I'd also ask the doctor to give you some strengthening exercises for both the back and the abs, to do without the brace. Or with it, if you're really still that weak from the c-section. This you'll be sure to get stronger and get rid of that brace faster, and be able to do whatever workout or exercise you want without worry.
Good luck,
Kit