Women's Health Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy has an important role in hernia care, but it is important to be clear from the start. Physiotherapy does not repair a hernia. A hernia is a physical gap in the abdominal wall, and closing it is a job for a surgeon. What physiotherapy does well is prepare your body before surgery and rebuild your strength safely afterwards, so you recover better and reduce strain on the repair.
Think of us as working alongside your doctor and surgeon, not instead of them. Before surgery, we help you build core strength and learn safe movement, which can support a smoother recovery. After surgery, we guide you back to normal activity at the right pace, following your surgeon's protocol. If you have not yet had a hernia assessed, please see a doctor first.
A hernia often shows up as:
Please seek urgent medical care if a hernia becomes suddenly very painful, firm, or tender, or if the bulge will not push back in, as this can signal a serious complication that needs immediate attention.
A hernia happens when there is a weak spot in the abdominal wall and pressure inside the abdomen pushes tissue through it. That weakness can be present from birth or develop over time, and the pressure often comes from heavy lifting, chronic coughing, straining, or repeated strain over years. Physiotherapy cannot close that gap, but it can help you manage pressure and strengthen the muscles around it.
A hernia is diagnosed by a doctor, usually by examination and sometimes a scan. Before we design your programme, we:
Common types include inguinal (groin), umbilical (navel), and incisional (at a previous scar). Your surgeon confirms the type, and physiotherapy always works alongside your medical team rather than in place of a surgical assessment.
Core conditioning, safe lifting mechanics, and breathing techniques to prepare your body.
A graded return to core strength once your surgeon clears you, starting gently and building up.
How to lift, bend, cough, and get in and out of bed without straining the repair.
Clear, staged guidance back to work, exercise, and daily life.
While you wait for or recover from surgery, safe movement matters more than pushing exercise. General principles include:
Breathe out during effort such as lifting or standing up, rather than holding your breath and bearing down.
Gently support the area with your hand when you cough or sneeze.
Keep loads light and close to your body, and bend at the hips and knees.
Walking and gentle movement help, but avoid straining and heavy lifting.
After surgery, follow your surgeon's instructions first, and only progress strengthening once you are cleared. Returning to heavy activity too soon is a common cause of recurrence.
Going into surgery stronger, recovering with less setback, protecting the repair through better movement habits, and returning to the activities you value with confidence rather than fear.
Most symptomatic hernias are repaired surgically, because physiotherapy cannot close the gap. For some small, painless hernias, a doctor may suggest watchful waiting. Either way, your surgeon decides if and when to operate. The role of physiotherapy is to prepare you beforehand and rebuild your strength safely afterwards.
Timelines depend entirely on your type of hernia, your surgery, and your surgeon's instructions, which always take priority over general advice. In general, early recovery focuses on gentle movement and protecting the repair, with strengthening added gradually over the following weeks. We coordinate your programme with your medical team.
To protect the repair and lower the chance of another hernia:
Questions
No. A hernia needs medical assessment and, usually, surgical repair. Physiotherapy supports you before and after that repair; it does not close the hernia itself.
Both can help. Prehabilitation prepares your body, and rehabilitation restores strength safely once your surgeon allows.
Only when your surgeon clears you, and then we build you back up gradually. Returning too soon or too hard can strain the repair.
Some movement can be, but certain activities may worsen symptoms. We will guide you on what is safe for your situation, in coordination with your doctor.
Your doctor or surgeon confirms the type, such as inguinal (groin), umbilical (navel), or incisional (at a previous scar). We tailor your programme to your type and your surgical plan.
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Whether you are preparing for hernia surgery or recovering from it, guided physiotherapy can make the process safer and smoother, alongside your medical team.