Safe Core Exercises After Hysterectomy | Weeks 1–6 Recovery Routine

Safe core exercises after hysterectomy to reduce swelly belly and gently reactivate deep abdominal muscles. Pelvic Health Physiotherapist Michelle Kenway guides you through this gentle hysterectomy recovery exercise routine for weeks 1–6 after abdominal, vaginal, or laparoscopic hysterectomy. These core exercises include diaphragmatic breathing, deep abdominal activation, bent knee fallouts, heel slides, and gentle core progression exercises to help you activate and progressively retrain core muscle control during early hysterectomy recovery. ▶️ Watch More Hysterectomy Recovery Exercises with Michelle    • Hysterectomy Recovery Exercises   Timestamps - Safe Core Exercises After Hysterectomy 0:07 Swelly Belly After A Hysterectomy 0:19 Why Core Recovery Matters For Women 0:46 When to Start Hysterectomy Recovery Exercises 1:59 Exercise 1: Diaphragmatic Breathing After Hysterectomy 4:23 Exercise 2: Deep Abdominal Activation 6:20 How to Find Your Lower Abdominal Muscles 6:58 Side-Lying Core Activation After Hysterectomy 8:00 Pelvic Floor and Deep Core Muscles Work Together 9:26 Exercise 3: Butterfly Core Exercise 11:06 Exercise 4: Bent Knee Fallout for Deep Core Control 13:55 Pelvic Tilt Exercises for Relieving Lower Back and Pelvic Stiffness 14:25 Exercise 5: Heel Slides After Hysterectomy 16:33 Exercise 6: Heel Lift or Toe Tap Progression 18:39 Bed Bridge Exercises Relieve Lower Back and Buttock Tightness 18:58 Relaxation and Recovery Breathing 19:26 How Often to Do Hysterectomy Core Exercises Pelvic Health Physiotherapists can provide you with individualized assessment and guidance for your core and pelvic floor exercises during hysterectomy recovery. Scientific References Used for This Video Drummond, G. B. (2003). The abdominal muscles in anaesthesia and after surgery. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 91(1), 73–80. https://doi.org/10.1093/bja/aeg145 Gille, U. (2007). Transversus abdominis muscle, left [Modified illustration based on Gray’s Anatomy]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... Hodges, P. W., Sapsford, R., & Pengel, L. H. M. (2007). Postural and respiratory functions of the pelvic floor muscles. Neurourology and Urodynamics, 26(3), 362–371. https://doi.org/10.1002/nau.20232 Kenway, M. D. (2011). Inside out: The essential women’s guide to pelvic floor safe exercise. Shah, S., Vaishali, K., Prasad, S. S., & Babu, A. S. (2020). Altered patterns of abdominal muscle activation during forced exhalation following elective laparotomy: An experimental research. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 61, 198–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2020.1... Tazreean, R., Nelson, G., & Twomey, R. (2022). Early mobilization in enhanced recovery after surgery pathways: Current evidence and recent advancements. Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research, 11(2), 121–129. https://doi.org/10.2217/cer-2021-0258 Wu, A., & Drummond, G. B. (2006). Respiratory muscle activity and respiratory obstruction after abdominal surgery. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 96(4), 510–515. https://doi.org/10.1093/bja/ael035 Yani, M. S., Wesselmann, U., Cottrell, A. M., Baranowski, A. P., & Engeler, D. S. (2022). Impaired ability to relax pelvic floor muscles in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The Journal of Urology, 208(1), 148–156. https://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000... Zivkovic, V., Lazovic, M., Vlajkovic, M., Slavkovic, A., Dimitrijevic, L., Stankovic, I., & Vacic, N. (2012). Diaphragmatic breathing exercises and pelvic floor retraining in children with dysfunctional voiding. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 48(3), 413–421. PMID: 22669134 Medical Disclaimer This video is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to replace individual assessment, diagnosis, or treatment by a qualified health professional. Please seek individual advice from a qualified pelvic floor physiotherapist or your healthcare professional. #HysterectomyRecovery #CoreExercises #MichelleKenway