Training with Umbilical Hernia

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hi Dr. Feigenbaum and Dr. Baraki,

What is your advice for strength training with an umbilical hernia?

My backstory: I’ve been diagnosed with a small (~0.5 inch) umbilical hernia just above my belly button by my doctor. It is painless and causes no discomfort and is fully reducible. I’m a 26yo healthy male with no previous medical issues.

I saw a general surgeon about it, and he said that surgery is not required for the foreseeable future. When I discussed that I lift heavy weights, he told me to continue on with it as normal, but didn’t seem to have a good grasp of what barbell squatting and deadlifting entailed.

In you personal and/or professional opinion, should I seek corrective surgery now and get it over with, or continue training as normal?

To everyone else: do any of you have experience training through hernias, either pre- or post- surgery?

Thanks for you time!

2

Given that you have already seen 2 professionals about this who have stated you can train and go about your life, I think it’s likely you can train. They have had the advantage of examining you and taking a thorough history, however both have said you can train- which I agree with.

I have an umbilical hernia for about a decade now. It’s doing just fine.