After Surgery, you need to be moving regularly. Now is the time to start an exercise routine. Below are suggestions that will get you started down the road to fitness.

Walking is the first type of exercise that we recommend, both before and after surgery. If you are new to exercise and you are also recovering from surgery, you can walk 10 - 20 minutes four or five days a week. As you get stronger, you can increase the distance and the speed to your comfort level.

As with any type of exercise, it is still important to warm up, then stretch. Start by walking for just 5 minutes and then do a few gentle stretches. Your muscles will stretch better if you walk a little at first.

Consistency is probably the most important part of your walking routine. The more time you can devote to walking each day, the healthier you'll be. Remember that short walks are better than none at all. Health, like life, is a journey, what you need to do is take the first step.

Videos / DVDS

There are excellent low impact videos on the market that can assist you with getting started with an exercise routine, providing you will use it on a regular basis. Videos that other patients have liked are:

• Richard Simmons: Dancing to the oldies
• Leslie Sansone: Walk Away the Pounds

Water Fitness

Many individuals like water programs. You can start water activities about three weeks after surgery. Water programs are great, since they are non-weight bearing and therefore are gentle to painful joints. Water fitness can improve strength, flexibility, cardiovascular health, decrease body fat, and facilitate cardiac function.

With weight loss your health will improve. As you become stronger it is highly suggested that you advance to more challenging activities. You may want to try bike riding, hiking, skiing, rollerblading, tennis, jogging, sports teams, kick boxing, aerobics, etc… A whole new world of opportunities is going to open up for you, please take the time to explore it. Exercise can be fun when used as recreation.